French superstar Kylian Mbappe is set to spearhead Real Madrid’s pursuit of yet another storied Champions League comeback as the Spanish giants attempt to overturn a daunting 3-0 deficit against Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. The Gunners stunned the 15-time European champions in the first leg of the quarter-final in London, but Madrid, known for their legendary fightbacks on this stage, are not giving up yet—and neither is their marquee forward.
Mbappe, who joined Madrid with dreams of finally clinching Europe’s top club honour, has declared his belief in the team’s ability to produce something special. “Of course we can,” he told reporters as he left the Emirates last Tuesday, his sights already set on the decisive second leg.
Arsenal, whose dominant first-leg display featured two stunning free-kicks from Declan Rice and a third goal from Mikel Merino, know all too well that the job is far from over. Especially with Mbappe in the mix—a player who has already punished Premier League opposition this season. In February, he bagged a memorable hat-trick against Manchester City at the Bernabeu in the play-off round, propelling Madrid to a 6-3 aggregate triumph over the reigning English champions.
Despite his recent sending-off in La Liga against Alaves after just 38 minutes on the pitch, Mbappe is expected to be well-rested and ready to lead the line. With 33 goals in 49 appearances this season, the 25-year-old has already equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut-season goal tally at the club, and he now eyes an even greater legacy.
For Mbappe, lifting the Champions League has been a long-cherished ambition that eluded him during his time at Paris Saint-Germain. Ironically, in 2022, he was on the receiving end of one of Real Madrid’s most unforgettable turnarounds. Having scored in both legs of PSG’s last-16 tie against Madrid, Mbappe saw his side collapse at the Bernabeu after a breathtaking 17-minute hat-trick from Karim Benzema erased PSG’s advantage and propelled Madrid to the next round—on their way to being crowned European champions once again.
Reflecting on his own three-goal heroics against City earlier this year, Mbappe described it as the kind of experience he had always dreamed of. “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,” he said. “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.”
Indeed, Real Madrid’s history is rich with comeback tales. In the 2022 semi-final, they came from 5-3 down on aggregate against Manchester City in the dying minutes to win 6-5 and reach the final. In 2016, they erased a 2-0 first-leg quarter-final loss to Wolfsburg with a Ronaldo-inspired 3-0 victory. Perhaps most iconic of all was their 2014 final against city rivals Atletico, when Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute header forced extra time and launched Madrid to a 4-1 win and their tenth European crown.
Mbappe now stands at the centre of what could become another unforgettable night in Real Madrid’s lore. His pace, precision, and poise offer Los Blancos their best hope of overturning the deficit and sending Arsenal crashing out.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic, reiterating the club’s enduring belief in nights like this at the Bernabeu. “We have to believe, we have to have confidence,” Ancelotti said. “Because sometimes—quite often—at the Bernabeu, it happens.”
For Mbappe, Wednesday night presents more than just a football match. It is an opportunity to etch his name alongside the legends of Madrid. Just as club great Juanito once warned in the 1980s: “Ninety minutes at the Bernabeu is a long time.”
