Champions League: Madrid derby showdown, Lille to make history?

From a captivating Madrid derby to Lille’s quest to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history, Gulf News breaks down the key storylines to watch in Wednesday’s second-leg last-16 clashes.

Atlético Madrid face an uphill against city rivals Real Madrid, having suffered a 2-1 defeat in the first leg at the Bernabéu. The pressure is firmly on Diego Simeone’s side, who not only need a victory to keep their European hopes alive but must also recover from a disappointing 2-1 league loss to Getafe at the weekend.

Despite the first-leg setback, Atlético’s home record in Europe provides reason for optimism. Los Colchoneros have lost just once in their last 14 Champions League home matches (W9, D4) and remain unbeaten in UCL knockout games at home since 1997 (W11, D7).

Furthermore, they’ve shown resilience in recent Madrid derbies at home, losing only once in their last seven encounters (W3, D3). However, overturning the deficit is no small task, as only one of those victories came with the required margin to advance without extra time.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, arrive with the momentum of a 2-1 league victory over Rayo Vallecano and a formidable European pedigree. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have progressed from 21 of their last 22 UCL ties after winning the first leg, including a flawless record under the Italian manager (9/9). Los Blancos have also been clinical on the road in Europe this season, scoring three goals in each of their last three away matches.

With Real’s history and firepower, Atlético will need to produce a near-perfect performance to reach the quarter-finals. But Simeone’s men have defied the odds before, and a thrilling derby showdown awaits at the Metropolitano.

Lille’s hopes of making history are alive and well as they welcome Borussia Dortmund to Stade Pierre-Mauroy following an impressive 1-1 draw in Germany last week. Bruno Génésio’s side find themselves on the brink of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

The French side has been a formidable force at home, going unbeaten in their last 16 matches at Stade Pierre-Mauroy across all competitions (W10, D4). Their attacking prowess has been particularly evident, netting 11 goals in their last four home games despite facing European heavyweights like Real Madrid and Juventus.

A solid 1-0 win over Montpellier at the weekend has further bolstered their confidence, marking just their second clean sheet in 13 outings. However, Lille’s recent UCL encounters have often been high-scoring affairs, with both teams finding the net in each of their last seven matches.

Dortmund, meanwhile, will be looking to draw on their European pedigree to overcome the challenge. Although they claimed three wins in their last four away games, Niko Kovač’s side arrives in Lille after a disappointing 1-0 Bundesliga defeat to Augsburg. Their offensive capabilities remain undeniable, with only Barcelona outscoring them during the group stage, but their inconsistency on French soil is a concern. The Black and Yellows have managed just four wins in their last 13 away trips to France (D2, L7).

With Lille’s strong home form and Dortmund’s firepower, this clash promises to be an enthralling contest as both sides aim to secure their place in the last eight.

Arsenal are poised to cruise into the quarter-finals after a record-breaking 7-1 demolition of PSV Eindhoven in the first leg, the most emphatic away victory in UCL knockout history.

Barring a miraculous comeback, Mikel Arteta’s side will look to solidify their dominance while maintaining momentum ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash with Chelsea.

The Gunners are in scintillating European form, winning five consecutive UCL matches and scoring an astonishing 20 goals while conceding just three. Another victory would mark their longest winning streak in the competition since 2005, under Arsène Wenger.

Arsenal’s home record this season has been particularly impressive, with four straight UCL wins at the Emirates without conceding a single goal. If they secure a fifth clean-sheet victory, they will emulate the achievement of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea during their 2021/22 campaign as reigning champions. 

PSV, meanwhile, face a monumental challenge to salvage pride in North London. Having lost three straight matches following their shock elimination of Juventus in the previous round, the Dutch side have struggled domestically and in Europe. A weekend league win offered some respite, but they would need to match their biggest-ever UCL victory (6-0 vs Zalgiris in 1992/93) to force extra time.

Their chances look slim given a woeful UCL away record, conceding over two goals per game on average in their last 15 outings and failing to keep a clean sheet in that stretch. PSV have also struggled historically in England, with just four wins in 20 visits.