As James Horncastle said in the Euroleagues podcast, there are heavyweights of the European game that still support Madrid to progress, including the winners of the Champions League with AC Milan Alessandro Costacurta and Zvonimir Boban, and the former head of Madrid Fabio Capello.
“Incredible things happen in football, incredible things happen in Bernabéu,” said Horncastle. “I know that this side of Real Madrid has injuries, it has defects, it is not balanced.
“I was not surprised to see in the Italian newspapers and on Italian television, which when they were asked to predict who would reach the semifinals, three experts, Costacurta, Boban and Capello, they still refused to go against Madrid.
“It still says a lot about the reputation of Madrid that it is not something that can take for granted that Arsenal will progress in the Bernabéu.”
But omens are good for Mikel Arteta’s outfit.
Arsenal’s victory was the twelfth time that an English team won by three or more goals in the first leg of a draw on the stage of the Champions League, and every time the English team has passed to the next round.
The Gunners also have a good record when they lead after the first leg of a knockout match of the Champions League: they have progressed six of the eight ties that have won the inaugural match.
In addition, they remain undefeated against Real Madrid in European competition, with two victories and a draw, and have not granted a single goal in their three meetings.
