Madrid , April 16, (V7N) –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 they need against Arsenal Wednesday if they are to progress to the semi-finals.
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 to lure Mbappe to the club for years.
The French superstar's explosive edge gives Real hope of achieving what appears to be borderline impossible.
"Of course we can," said Mbappe on his way out of the Emirates last Tuesday, heading to the team bus after Arsenal's stunning victory.
Declan Rice struck two sublime free-kicks and Mikel Merino's third helped Mikel Arteta's side put one foot in the final four.
Arsenal will be fully aware the job is not yet complete, having seen Mbappe's devastating impact against Premier League champions Manchester City earlier this season.
Mbappe netted a hat-trick against Pep Guardiola's side in February at Santiago Bernabeu in the play-off round, helping Real eliminate City 6-3 on aggregate.
The striker was sent off for a wild challenge against Alaves in LaLiga on Sunday, putting his team-mates under pressure, but can make it up to them with a special performance at Santiago Bernabeu against Arsenal.
Real 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, matching Real's all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo's tally in his first season at the club.
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 comeback.
PSG led 1-0 from 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 into life and a remarkable 17-minute Karim Benzema hat-trick turned the tie around and powered Los Blancos into the quarter-finals, on the way to lifting the trophy.
Mbappe said his treble against 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 Frenchman.
"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 Real made a stunning comeback to beat City despite trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the final minutes of the semi-final second leg, progressing 6-5 in the end.
Perhaps their most important comeback came in the 2014 final against rivals Atletico Madrid, 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”, a 10th Champions League trophy.
They also overcame a 2-0 quarter-final 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 Santiago Bernabeu, comebacks are always on everyone's lips," said Ronaldo.
Real and comebacks have been synonymous since the 1980s when winger Juanito was involved in several, including the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 1985.
"90 minutes at Bernabeu is a long time," he warned Inter Milan after the hosts won the first leg 2-0 in Italy, with Real going on to triumph 3-0 on their way to glory.
Mbappe came to Real to add to their 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."
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