Mbappe hopes to spark Madrid miracle

MADRID — Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid in search of Champions League glory, hoping to be on the right side of exactly the kind of magical night it needs against Arsenal on Wednesday if it is to progress to the semifinals.

The Gunners lead 3-0 after dismantling the holder in London last week in the quarterfinal first leg, leaving Madrid needing a miraculous comeback — the sort the 15-time winner is renowned for.

Returning from a three-goal defeat would be step further than anything Los Blancos have managed so far, but that is precisely why they tried for years to lure Mbappe to the club.

The French superstar's explosive edge gives Madrid hope of achieving what appears to be a borderline impossible task.

When asked if he thought it's possible, as he headed to the team bus last Tuesday following Arsenal's stunning victory at the Emirates, Mbappe simply replied: "Of course we can."

Declan Rice struck two sublime freekicks and Mikel Merino's third goal put Mikel Arteta's side on the brink of a place in the final four.

Arsenal will be fully aware the job is not yet complete, having seen Mbappe's devastating impact against Premier League champion Manchester City earlier this season.

Mbappe netted a hat-trick against Pep Guardiola's side in February at the Santiago Bernabeu in the playoff round, helping Madrid eliminate City 6-3 on aggregate.

The striker was sent off for a wild challenge against Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, putting his teammates under pressure, but can make it up to them with a special performance at the Santiago Bernabeu against Arsenal.

Madrid scraped a 1-0 win, and Mbappe only played 38 minutes before his dismissal, so he should be fresh for Wednesday.

Mbappe has 33 goals in 49 games across all competitions this season, already matching the first-season tally of Madrid's all-time top goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

'Big night'

Mbappe failed to lift the Champions League trophy with Paris Saint-Germain during his seven seasons at the club, and, in 2022, was on the sharp end of a spectacular Real Madrid comeback.

PSG led 1-0 after the last 16 first leg, with Mbappe on target, and he netted his second goal of the tie to give the French side the lead at the Bernabeu.

It sparked Real Madrid into life, and a remarkable Karim Benzema hat-trick in the span of 17 minutes turned the tie around and powered Los Blancos into the quarterfinals, on the way to lifting the trophy.

Mbappe said his treble against Man City was exactly the kind of night he was craving.

"I've been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid, to play for this club, and to feel what it's like on a big night at the Bernabeu," said the French striker.

"A lot of people have told me about it, but now I've seen it with my own eyes, and I hope we'll have many more."

In 2022, Madrid made a stunning comeback to beat City despite trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the final minutes of the semifinal second leg, eventually progressing with 6-5 win.

Perhaps its most important comeback came in the 2014 final against crosstown rival Atletico, when Real was trailing 1-0 until Sergio Ramos headed home in the 93rd minute to force extra-time, with Los Blancos winning 4-1 to claim 'La Decima', its 10th Champions League trophy.

It also overcame a 2-0 quarterfinal first leg deficit against Wolfsburg in 2016, winning the second leg 3-0 with a Ronaldo hat-trick.

Mbappe would dearly love to emulate the Portuguese forward's feat against Arsenal.

"At the Santiago Bernabeu, comebacks are always on everyone's lips," said Ronaldo.

Madrid and comebacks have been synonymous since the 1980s, when winger Juanito was involved in several, including the UEFA Cup semifinals in 1985.

"Ninety minutes at the Bernabeu is a long time," he warned Inter Milan, after the host won the first leg 2-0 in Italy, with Madrid going on to triumph 3-0 on their way to glory.

Mbappe came to Madrid to add to its rich history, and Arsenal's visit presents the ideal opportunity.

"We have to believe, we have to have confidence," said coach Carlo Ancelotti last week. "Because, sometimes, quite often at the Bernabeu, it happens."

A season-salvaging game

Arsenal, which has never been crowned European champion, has become used to battling for the English league title — narrowly losing out to Manchester City in the past two seasons.

This year, it has been its misfortune to be competing against a Liverpool team that has been relentless, taking an early lead in the league that it has not relinquished, in a spectacular first season for Arne Slot at Anfield.

Arsenal has had chances to put the pressure on the runaway leader, but 12 draws in the Premier League, and just two wins in its past seven games, have cost it dearly.

Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to mid-table Brentford meant the Gunners finished the weekend 13 points behind Liverpool, which could wrap up a record-equaling 20th English league title as early as this weekend.

Arteta denied that his players had been distracted by their upcoming match in Spain, but his team selection showed where his priorities lie in the final weeks of the season.

The Spaniard made five changes to the side that beat Madrid, with winger Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard left out of the starting lineup.

Afterward, he turned his attention to Real Madrid.

"We still have six games to play in the Premier League, which are going to be really important, for sure," he said. "But, for now, it's all about Wednesday."

Despite its stumbles, Arsenal is almost certain to secure one of the five qualification places for next season's Champions League.

But, slipping below second would dent the Gunners' pride and challenge the perception that they are making steady progress toward winning a first Premier League title since 2004.

The Gunners could make club history in Europe in the next few weeks, but if they fall short, the season could end with a whimper.

AFP