Real Madrid says 'anything is possible' as it attempts to overcome 3-goal deficit against Arsenal

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid's website defiantly told fans that “anything is possible," one day before the defending champion attempts to overcome a three-goal deficit to Arsenal in the Champions League.

A video showed Madrid's memorable comebacks in recent years, mentioning the “team of dreams” and the club's achievements “in this stadium, in this competition.”

“Bernabeu, again,” was the headline on the website ahead of the second leg of the quarterfinals at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Wednesday.

“I have respect and admiration for what they’ve done in the competition as a club over the years, the history that they have, the values that they defend," Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said, while also trying to downplay the significance of Madrid's past success going into the second leg.

“It’s part of their history and they’ve earned the right to talk about these scenarios," he said. "Our mindset is different in how we have the best chance to be better than them. I think it is exciting. We have never won this competition, and we are trying to do something now where we can dominate.”

A record 15-time European champion, Madrid lost the first leg 3-0 in England last week.

Only four times has a home team erased a first-leg deficit of three goals or more, according to UEFA.

Madrid rival Barcelona recovered after a 4-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain with a historic 6-1 home victory in the round of 16 in the 2016-17 season. In the 2018-19 semifinals, Liverpool lost 3-0 at Barcelona but advanced with a 4-0 home victory. A season earlier in the quarterfinals, Barcelona was involved again. After beating Roma 4-1 at home, Barcelona lost the second leg 3-0 in the Italian capital.

The only other three-goal comeback by the home team came in 2004 in the quarterfinals, when Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna lost 4-1 at AC Milan and then won 4-0 at home to advance.

Madrid has a recent history of comebacks in the Champions League that has given fans hope of another magical night at the Bernabeu.

Madrid won its 14th Champions League title in 2022 after rallying its way through the knockout rounds. It looked beaten at the Bernabeu in the last 16 against PSG, in the quarterfinals against Chelsea and in the semifinals against Manchester City, but every time it found a way to advance.

Against City, Madrid needed two late goals by forward Rodrygo — in the 90th minute and in stoppage time — to force extra time, when Karim Benzema converted a decisive penalty kick to put Madrid in the final, where it beat Liverpool.

“The fans will be very important,” Ancelotti said Tuesday. “The push from the fans has helped us many times before. They have helped us a lot in recent years, and tomorrow it will be the same. We need to play at our best level to try to reverse this result, which we know is something difficult to do.

“Madrid has all the resources to make a comeback,” Ancelotti said. “We have the quality, the commitment, the experience, the fans. ... The resources are there. I don't know if we will achieve the result that we need, but I'm certain that we will all give our best."

Arsenal hasn't conceded three or more goals in nearly 80 matches across all competitions, since a 4-3 win at Luton in the Premier League in December 2023. The last time Arsenal lost by a three-goal margin was when Brighton won 3-0 at Emirates Stadium nearly three years ago.

“It doesn’t matter. We have to do it again,” Arteta said. “We have to prove it now in this context and that’s the challenge."

The English side last overcame Madrid in the Champions League knockout stage in 2005-06, when it reached the final and eventually lost the title to Barcelona.

Arsenal hasn't lost to Madrid in the teams' three previous meetings, and is the only side to have faced them three times in top European competition without conceding a goal.

Arsenal is looking to reach the European semifinals for the first time since 2009, when it was eliminated by Manchester United.

Madrid will be without midfielder Eduardo Camavinga on Wednesday because of a red card late in the first leg.

Kylian Mbappé was sent off in the Spanish league this weekend but is set to start in the Champions League game on Wednesday.

“He is disappointed with what happened, obviously, but he practiced well and is very motivated,” Ancelotti said. "He has scored a lot of goas this season, and more than ever we need his goals tomorrow."

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya during a training session in London, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, ahead of the Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Arsenal London. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session in London, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, ahead of the Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Arsenal London. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, center, gestures during a training session in London, England, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, ahead of the Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Arsenal London. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti reacts during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in London, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Adam Henrique had two goals, Stuart Skinner made 23 saves and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in their second-round NHL playoff series.

Evander Kane had a goal and an assist for Edmonton. Connor McDavid picked up an assist, extending his point streak to eight games.

The Oilers, who bounced back after allowing the winning goal Saturday night with just 0.4 seconds remaining, need one more win to advance. Game 5 is on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

“I just think everybody was dialed in (after a) huge disappointment from Game 3, the way we played and the way it ended,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “They knew they had to step it up tonight.”

Skinner was once again in net for Edmonton after replacing backup Calvin Pickard, who had rattled off six consecutive wins before getting injured in Game 2. Skinner, who had a 5.36 goals-against average coming into the game, improved to 1-3 in the postseason.

“We just put on our work boots and our hard hats and went to work,” Skinner said. “The way that we’ve competed over a number of games is pretty incredible. It’s hard to do that and the way that we’ve been doing it on a consistent basis just shows a lot of pride in this group.”

Adin Hill made 29 stops for the Golden Knights, who are one loss from being eliminated.

“Be better, that’s sort of it,” said Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel, who had his points streak halted at six games. “We go home and you’re at home, Game 5, win a game and go from there. That’s really all that matters at this point. Collectively as a group, I just think it needs to be better, cleaner and with more urgency.”

Edmonton got off to a quick start. Connor Brown stole a puck behind the net and sent it out front to Henrique in the slot. He blasted a one-timer past Hill at 1:27 for his second goal of the playoffs.

The Oilers scored again with 6:57 left in the first. Zach Hyman wrestled a puck from behind the net to Henrique in front and he chipped it in, setting off a scrum after Kane bowled over Hill on the play.

It was Henrique’s first multigoal playoff game since his rookie season in 2012.

Kane helped close it out when he elected to shoot on a 2-on-1, and it hit a defender’s skate and deflected in 7:38 into the second. It was his fourth of the postseason.

The Oilers have won all eight of their Game 4s since 2023.

Vegas forward Reilly Smith pointed out the Golden Knights were down 2-1 to Minnesota in the first round before marching back with three straight wins to advance.

“I mean, we did it last series," he said, “so we have a lot of faith in this group and we’ll just take it one at a time.”

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill (33) makes a save against Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) as Golden Knights' Nicolas Hague (14) defends during the second period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill (33) makes a save against Edmonton Oilers' Zach Hyman (18) as Golden Knights' Zach Whitecloud (2) defends during the second period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Alex Pietrangelo, front right, and Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) battle for the puck during the second period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Mark Stone (61) and Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) battle for the puck during the first period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Adam Henrique (19), Jake Walman (96) and Zach Hyman (18) celebrate after a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 4 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 12, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)