Real Madrid must exploit Arsenal inexperience to pull off their greatest Champions League show | OneFootball

Never count out the 15-time European champions

Action Images via Reuters

Real Madrid have made European comebacks into part of the very fabric of their identity, but the holders will have to pull off their greatest show in the Champions League yet to remain in with a chance of defending their crown after a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Part of Real's remarkable aura in this competition is that they are never out of a knockout tie, whatever the scoreline, and they will look to their 2021-22 run, and the comeback wins over Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City en route to winning the competition.

As more specific reference points, there is Liverpool's comeback from 3-0 down against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semi-finals, as well as Roma's win over the Catalans in 17-18, for inspiration.

Carlo Ancelotti's side will back themselves to get an early goal in Madrid next week and push on, particularly as Arsenal remain an inexperienced side at this level.

There were, however, enormous concerns for Ancelotti in the manner of his side's limp display at the Emirates, sealed by two remarkable direct free-kicks from Declan Rice and a clinical finish from stand-in striker Mikel Merino.

There is a case that Rice's two goals were freaks, especially given they were the first free-kicks he has scored in nine seasons as a professional, but Real had Thibaut Courtois to thank for keeping the score down with a string of fine saves in each half.

In between Rice's twin strikes, the Belgian made a brilliant double save to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Merino, having pulled off a similar feat at 0-0 when he kept Rice's header and the Brazilian's follow-up.

Real have made a habit of playing poorly and winning in this competition and, characteristically, they did not look flustered by Arsenal's pressure in the first half.

But on this occasion, their initial composure came to feel like inaction and they were surprisingly passive and defensive as the game progressed, choosing to try to counter-punch rather than take the game to the hosts.

Both sides had obvious weak spots in their teams; Real's was David Alaba, the 32-year-old who was given the nod ahead of Fran Garcia at left-back, where he has not played all season.

For Arsenal, it was Jakub Kiwior, who continued at centre-half in place of the injured Gabriel.

But while Saka roasted Alaba all night and predictably won the foul from the Austrian leading to the opening goal, Real failed to exploit Kiwior's shortcomings.

In midfield, where Real might have had an edge on paper, Arsenal were much the betterm, with the brilliant Myles Lewis-Skelly tucking in from left-back to help overrun Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga, who was shown a stoppage-time red card.

Arsenal simply did not allow Real the breathing space or errors in judgement that they normally punish in this competition.

For all Real’s belief and the talk about their aura and invincibility that will inevitably surface ahead of the decicer, Los Blancos must significantly raise their game next week to have any chance of clawing their way back into this tie.