Real Madrid vs Arsenal Prediction, Preview & Lineups: Rodrygo tipped in two bets at the Bernabeu

After rolling back the years last Tuesday, Arsenal travel to the Spanish capital with a three-goal cushion as they look to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2009. The clash will be shown live at TNT Sports 1 on Wednesday, April 16th at 8 pm.

Oli Nixon has previewed the game and provided his best bets.

Real Madrid vs Arsenal Preview

Having won this competition twice in the last three seasons, Real Madrid are perhaps one of the few sides capable of overturning a three-goal deficit. However, having been so comprehensively controlled at the Emirates last week, it would be a remarkable turnaround if they were to manage it.

Real Madrid vs Arsenal Betting Tips

With the game-state being what it is, possession is crucial and therefore Real Madrid are going to have to engage an aggressive press whenever Arsenal have the ball, frantically hassling them to win it back as quickly as possible if they’re to stand any chance of getting back into the tie. Key to this press will be their wide forwards Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who will need to use their pace to exert pressure when Arsenal try to knock the ball around their back four.

On the whole, this is something that Rodrygo has done effectively; however, in recent weeks, he’s been mis-timing his tackles, committing 0.89 fouls per 90 across his last ten appearances. Two of those fouls came in the first leg, one of which came in the first few minutes as he brought down Myles Lewis-Skelly. Speaking of the young left back, he’s key to this bet as he’s drawn 2.93 fouls per 90 this season, as right wingers have regularly been forced into bringing him down. With Arsenal looking to wind the clock down at every opportunity, the England international is even more likely to go down at the slightest contact, and so Rodrygo looks a lovely price to repeat his antics from the first leg.

Continuing with the theme of Madrid’s urgency to dominate the ball, Rodrygo is also more than adept at successfully turning the ball over, averaging 2.42 tackles per 90 across his aforementioned ten appearances. The Brazilian has made at least two tackles in six of his last seven starts, including two at the Emirates in the first leg. In the home leg of their tie with Man City, he made four tackles and a further two at the Bernabeu against Atletico in the last 16, suggesting he’s a man for the big occasion.

Across Arsenal’s last nine matches in all competitions, opposition right wingers have combined for 14 tackles between them, with five of them having at least two. Rodrygo will be up against Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Martinelli, who are dispossessed 2.18 times per 90 between them, and with Arsenal looking for those players to carry the ball out and run down the clock at every opportunity, there should be plenty of opportunities for him to get stuck in.

Real Madrid vs Arsenal Lineups

The lineups for Real Madrid vs Arsenal will be displayed below approximately one hour before kick-off.

Real Madrid vs Arsenal Bet Boosts

Real Madrid vs Arsenal Odds