By Gbenga Isaac Abuja Arsenal will feel they are out of the running for a quarter fi nal spot when they welcome Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium. Th e Gunners were pummeled in the fi rst leg, losing 5-1 in arguably their worst display of the season. No club has progressed in a Champions League knockout tie after losing the fi rst leg by 4+ goals. It is their 12th meeting in the Champions League, with Bayern winning 6 of the previous 11 ties. Th e Bavarians lost at the Emirates last season, but even a loss tonight may not be enough to send them packing. Jerome Boateng and Franck Ribery missed the fi rst leg through injuries but they have been passed fi t and should start. We will be in for a fi ery encounter when Napoli clash with Real Madrid at the Stadio San Paolo.
Real Madrid may have won the fi rst leg 3-1 but Napoli will feel they have a good chance of sneaking through, thanks to the away goal scored by Lorenzo Insigne. Th e Italians lie 3rd in Serie A and were surprise 2-1 winners against AS Roma at the weekend. Real on the other hand, recovered from their loss to Valencia to thump Eibar 4-1 in the absence of CR7 and Gareth Bale. Both players are expected to start as Zinedine Zidane targets a quarter fi nal place.
