Champions League 24/25: Arsenal vs Real Madrid first leg betting tips

Ahead of the 2024/25 Champions League quarter-final first leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid, the experts at Ladbrokes share their top betting tips.

As the Gunners look forward to their second UCL quarter-final in as many years, fans will be optimistic that they can upset their Spanish visitors and set up a blockbuster second leg at the Bernabeu - especially with Bukayo Saka back fit.

Below are Ladbrokes' top betting tips for Arsenal vs Real Madrid, backing the aforementioned Saka to score and Ballon d'Or hopeful Kylian Mbappe to really test Arsenal's resolve.

After scoring on his Emirates return against Fulham a week ago, Bukayo Saka is firmly back in the Arsenal picture and is tipped to mark his return to Champions League football with another goal here.

The talismanic winger has only got two games under his belt since a four-month injury layoff, but finding the net just seven minutes into his comeback game proves he hasn't lost that goalscoring touch - and with Real Madrid conceding 10 goals in their last four games, the chances will certainly arise for Arsenal.

In just 26 games this season, Bukayo Saka has scored 10 goals and grabbed 13 assists, and with Arsenal always looking for the 23-year-old whenever they get the ball, Ladbrokes expects him to add to his tally at the Emirates.

Arsenal and Real Madrid know where the back of the net is, with both sides among the highest scorers in their respective leagues, so Ladbrokes is expecting both teams to score in the opening leg.

The attacking quality on display in this fixture makes goals feel inevitable, with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe - both among the favourites for this season's Ballon d'Or - striking fear into any defence. The two electric attackers are both sitting on seven Champions League goals already this season, so it will be no surprise to see either find the net again here.

Arsenal are also coming into the game in good goalscoring form, scoring in each of their last six, so Ladbrokes is backing an eventful game which sees both teams score ahead of an unmissable second leg.

In his 10 Champions League appearances this season, Vinicius Junior has already picked up four yellow cards, with another seven being shown his way in La Liga, and Ladbrokes expects the Brazilian to have his name taken again tonight.

Arsenal will look to control possession as much as they can when they face the current UCL holders at the Emirates, and with Vinicius Jr's impact potentially being limited as a result, his frustrations could boil over - as they have done on a few occasions this season.

The winger is a yellow card away from missing the crucial second leg, so manager Carlo Ancelotti will be asking for a calm head, but we don't think he'll get it.

Arsenal have earned a reputation this season as set-piece specialists - particularly from corners - and with their wingers being their primary source of attacks, they are likely to win a handful tonight.

With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli seeing so much of the ball, the direct attackers will always look to take on their full backs and put crosses in, leading to blocks, deflections and subsequently, corners.

Only Man City and Spurs have won more corners than Arsenal in the Premier League this season, and having found them such a successful route to goal this year, it may even be part of Mikel Arteta's gameplan - so backing over 4.5 corners seems worthwhile.

Real Madrid are currently one of the favourites to win the Champions League this year, and Kylian Mbappe is a huge reason why. The French forward not only has more than 300 career goals, but he also has experience performing on the biggest stages, with a World Cup final hattrick to his name.

With that in mind, Mbappe will have no fear heading into this quarter-final, particularly with Arsenal's backline missing Gabriel, and we're expecting him to test David Raya a few times with 3+ shots on target.

33 goals in all competitions already this season tells you all you need to know about the threat Mbappe poses, and with the Frenchman never shy about shooting from range, Arsenal will have to be wary of giving him any space at all.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.