It is Real Madrid against the Premier League. It often is. When Arsenal line up in the Bernabeu, it will be Real’s 22nd game against English opposition since the start of April 2021. If, for Arsenal, it would be a landmark result to eliminate Real, it has been a milestone of sorts simply to face them. For Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, Real have provided a regular date on the fixture list; perhaps no more for Chelsea, however. They could complete a clean sweep of European trophies this season but Real may never enter the Conference League.
Look at the list of recent Champions League winners and it has been Real or the Premier League. Chelsea in 2021 and City in 2023, Real in 2022 and 2024. An era of sorts may end this year, unless Arsenal maintain the Premier League’s biannual habit of conquering Europe or Real first stage a great comeback and then embark on the familiar pursuit of glory. Three of the four semi-finalists will be neither Real nor English.
