As Arsenal hit the ground running following the international break with a 2-1 win over Fulham, they would have been pardoned for having one eye on Spain. It is now less than one week until the Champions League quarter-finals, after all.
This is mainly what Arsenal's season rests on. There is a chance that Liverpool could slip up to allow more Premier League title race drama but the real focus has been on Europe for a while.
The good news for Mikel Arteta is that his team are finding a way to grind out results again after beating Chelsea 1-0 with a resolute defensive performance before the break. Here, they dealt well with Fulham and cut the gap at the top to nine points, at least temporarily.
At the same time, though, Real Madrid were playing their own first game back. In Copa del Rey action, Carlo Ancelotti's men were in a semi-final second leg against Real Sociedad.
It was Martin Zubimendi watch for some - especially with links to Madrid surfacing again this week - but also just a chance to see how Los Blancos would get on. Arsenal and Madrid still have one more game to play before the first leg at the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday so every hint and glimmer of hope is vital.
What Arsenal will have seen is certain weakness. They will also fail to have noticed the sheer champion quality of this team. It is a common trope with Madrid, but they are able to get results and big moments when it matters like no other side in recent memory.
Heading towards a penalty shootout and with just five minutes of extra-time left, up stepped Antonio Rudiger. His late, late header was eventually enough to see Madrid through to the final.
It is almost symbolic that it was Rudiger who won it. The former Chelsea man has been one of many Madrid figures surrounded by UEFA controversy during the break.
After it emerged that a set of Madrid players were being investigated following their actions at the end of last month's Champions League win over fierce rivals Atletico, all the talk has been of potential bans. Rudiger was one of those who celebrated the dramatic penalties victory a little too much.
He looked to making a throat slit gesture towards the home Atleti fans whilst Kylian Mbappe is accused of touching his privates in front of them as well. Diego Simeone himself was suspended for a Champions League game previously for similar actions on the touchline.
Atletico promptly reported the Madrid players, including Dani Ceballos and Vinicius Junior for their conduct. "A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid CF on 12 March 2025," a statement read.
Updates on this have dominated the preamble and build-up ahead of the Arsenal match. It is telling, however, that Ancelotti and his men still managed to shut out the noise to win again.
Antonio Rudiger is among the Real Madrid stars accused of 'indecent celebrations' following their win over Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.
They are the kings of the clutch and it is telling (but no surprise) that it was one of the players at the centre of celebration-gate who popped up to steal the limelight. This is ultimately what Madrid do better than most.
Madrid rotated their team against La Real, starting Endrick up front with Mbappe left to the bench. Rudiger was also a substitute, so was Luka Modric. All three came on with Jude Bellingham playing the full 120 minutes.
Madrid led 1-0 from the first leg but were soon level on aggregate after conceding early on. Endrick put them ahead again (level on the night) before chaos ensued.
A David Alaba own goal made it 2-2 in the tie with just over 25 minutes left. The visitors found another to edge ahead shortly after only for Bellingham to square things once more, now 3-3 overall to keep count.
Aurelien Tchoumeni scored with four minutes to go and looked to have put Madrid into the final only for a fourth goal in 10 minutes, coming in the 93rd minute, taking the tie to an additional half an hour. There it was left for Rudiger.
This can be taken as a warning for Arsenal. Madrid remain inevitable and impervious to speculation. With attention on their behaviour as the UEFA disciplinary case goes on, it had to be them and had to be Rudiger to buy into the occasion again.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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