Partey vs Bellingham
Rice vs Valverde
Odegaard vs Tchouemeni
Feels like we have the advantage in midfield, and if Rice got going we could really tilt the field. But I do think Bellingham will be tricky as he'll operate in between where Odegaard and Partey typically defend.
Martinelli vs Vasquez and Saka vs Garcia/Camivinga.....lots to like there, just need to ensure we have the possession to push them back.
Oddly hopeful.
Real are woeful lately. If there's ever a chance to beat them, it's now. With or without our injuries
Real certainly never go out without a fight.
Can’t really see where the magic comes from in our side to beat them. The way would be to controlball the heck out of them
I watch Real weekly and they rarely impress me. However they mostly end up winning matches in a way only Madrid can. They have an amazing attack but playing Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappe and Rodrygo all at the same time often leave them exposed and teams with a good transition game have often hurt them. Unfortunately, we we are very mediocre on transitions - this really needs to be sorted out in the summer. One area we can hurt them though is on set pieces, they have looked dodgy on them all season. Too bad our biggest threat on set pieces is injured, quelle surprise!
I was quietly confident that we'll knock them out but Gabriel's injury has really diminished our chances of progressing. I still wouldn't be overly surprised if we comfortably turn them over tomorrow. Their attack vs Kiwior is a big worry but we are a very dangerous team. I hope our players aren't overawed by the occasion or give them too much respect. I have often seen lesser teams trouble them this season. We are more than capable of giving them a game.
naz That or there will be some ridiculous own goal or howler. Said it in the Everton thread, but I can't see any scenario where we don't get fucked by some new and unprecedented red card or penalty in the 2nd leg if the tie is still in the balance.
I feel Madrid will go through 85% of the time so I'm not going in expecting us to get the result. I think Madrid do have weakness but the way we setup we are not a team that seems likely to make the most of them we are slow in attack and very cautious with a focus on trying to be difficult to beat first. If we concede a goal we are usually in big trouble so it needs a flawless application of our game.
Unfortunately our best attackers either have just returned from injury or haven't been in form. Then having lost Gabriel who has been so important particularly as I think Saliba has been a bit weaker this season I don't fancy that we don't concede and if so I don't think we can respond. Maybe we'll catch them all on an off day which can happen or we are perfect on the way we play but I just don't think it's likely we don't switch off or get tired at some point.
I'll still be at this game and the away game hoping we manage to execute a game we've struggled with for the most part.
I can't wait to embarrass these guys. This will be Saka's coronation
awooga83 I hope your support is more positive in the stadium 
you sound so demoralised by controlball 
We can do this come on have a little faith.
If our 2006 team managed it so can this 1!
The one main difference that that team had.. Henry
USArsenal wasn't Henry who kept a clean sheet in both matches though.
I've watched Real only 3-4 times this season. They look really dangerous in attack, especially on the break. Defensively, on the other hand, they seem like a complete mess at times, relying on individual bail outs.
We need to learn from our mistakes against Bayern last year and not be naive going into this match. I really hope the squad is not in awe of playing Madrid and really takes it to them physically (and is allowed to do so by the officials), while also closing the match down and limiting the transitions where Madrid can kill you.
It's clear that Madrid is afraid of our set pieces so we need to be efficient with them. I'm dubious on how successful we may be on them without Havertz and Gabriel but we do still have players who can get on the end of these deliveries in Merino, Timber and Saliba. We need to be clinical if we do get those chances.
Really hoping we see Odegaard at his best tonight - there is a weakness in this Madrid squad between the lines and if he can find those pockets of space between the midfield and defenders, he can really give them trouble especially if we can get Martinelli running in behind Vazquez. That's been a common thread this season for teams that have had success against Madrid. I'm cautiously optimistic (would've been moreso if Gabriel had been available for this match) but most of all, excited that the team is finally on this stage consistently and in position to compete against the absolute elites.
Nope but we currently dont have anyone that can literally take the game by the scruff and create something out of nothing the way Henry did.
Granted, this Real team is not the same.
Saka should have lots of fun against Alaba who has looked old and unfit recently.
Our midfield should dominate as well considering a 39 year old Modric starts and Tchouameni is suspended.
45 minutes until our lineup is out, hopefully Kiwior is on the bench 
So... almost everyone they claimed would be out for this game is magically fit. Lol.
in the stadium I'll be fully behind the team and hoping we can get the result don't worry.