Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is gearing up for his side to make a push for a potential comeback against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Los Blancos have a mountain to climb at the Bernabeu, with Arsenal winning 3-0 against Real Madrid in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The tie is far from over, something Mikel Arteta will know all too well, as one look at the history of the Champions League reveals.
While Carlo Ancelotti is looking for a response, the responsibility of that will fall on the forward players, with Kylian Mbappe one centre of focus for the coming clash for Arsenal.
Carlo Ancelotti has praised ‘motivated’ Kylian Mbappe before Arsenal clash
Carlo Ancelotti and his Real Madrid players have been thinking about a comeback for the past week, gearing themselves up to take on Arsenal.
In between the matches, both clubs had to return to league action, with the Gunners playing in the Premier League, while Los Blancos were featuring in La Liga.
Arsenal were held to a draw against Brentford, while Real Madrid beat Alaves to give themselves some momentum.
There was a small problem for the Spanish giants, though, as Kylian Mbappe was sent off in the match to pile on the misery over a difficult few weeks for him.
The Frenchman may look to make amends against Arsenal, with Ancelotti pointing out that he has impressed in training.
Speaking to the press before the match between Real Madrid and Arsenal, the head coach said: “Obviously he [Mbappe] was hurt and disappointed.
“He’s trained very well, very motivated, and obviously we need him. This isn’t just about defending; it’s about scoring goals, and more than ever, we need them tomorrow.”
It puts a lot of weight on the shoulders of a player who is more than capable of some big moments.
Kylian Mbappe cannot afford to put another chance down for Real Madrid
While Arsenal ran out as convincing winners against Real Madrid in the first leg, it could’ve all been so different.
In the first half, several missed opportunities were missed for Los Blancos on the break, who simply couldn’t put their chances away.
Ian Wright labelled Mbappe’s missed effort as the one that changed everything, with it keeping the game level.
With the stakes so high and just 90 minutes to turn the game around, the Frenchman cannot afford many more of those.
At the Bernabeu, he will have to show his quality to give Real Madrid a chance of making the semi-final.
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