All eyes are on the Santiago Bernabéu tonight as Real Madrid host Bayern Munich in a colossal UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg. For manager Álvaro Arbeloa, it's the ultimate test: bouncing back from a weekend league defeat to face Europe's most in-form team.

Despite the setback against Mallorca, Madrid's confidence should be high after their dramatic victory over Manchester City in the previous round. With the second leg in Munich looming, securing a positive result at home is absolutely crucial.

Injuries continue to shape Arbeloa's selection. Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo remain out, while Ferland Mendy is not expected back. The potential return of Dani Ceballos to the squad offers a welcome midfield boost.

In goal, Andriy Lunin gets another big European night, tasked with stopping a prolific Bayern attack. The heart of the defense presents a fascinating battle, with Antonio Rüdiger and Dean Huijsen likely to start, facing the monumental challenge of containing Harry Kane.

While Éder Militão marked his return with a goal last weekend, he's expected to begin on the bench. The full-back positions see key decisions: Trent Alexander-Arnold should continue at right-back, with Fran García poised to replace the unconvincing Álvaro Carreras on the left.

The real intrigue lies in the attack. All signs point to Arbeloa deploying a formidable 4-4-2, unleashing the blistering pace of Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé up front together. This dream pairing promises a direct, explosive threat that could define the tie against Bayern's high line.