Champions League: Arsenal must respond, can Madrid shock Bayern?

Arsenal head into the Champions League quarter-finals under real pressure, while Real Madrid face a season-defining night. Here's why that matters.

Bayern Munich is the clear favorite for the juggernaut fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu. Can Real Madrid spring surprises again? (Photo credit: UCL)

The quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League take center stage on Tuesday with the massive fixtures on separate levels.

Arsenal's season is falling apart; whatever happens in Lisbon on Tuesday night will have a huge bearing on how the fans and the manager, Mikel Arteta, feel going forward. It's a hell of a fixture for the club.

The other one is arguably the game of the round. Real Madrid hosts Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabéu. 

This game is more like a final; it's an opportunity for Real Madrid to reinstate themselves as the force that they've always been, while Bayern Munich can strengthen their favorite tag. It's a huge fixture.

Let's unwrap the two fixtures, starting with the one at the home of the record champions. 

Real Madrid's league form is horrendous. 

The Los Blancos have now lost sight of Barcelona in the title race; they must make up for it in the UCL.

The loss to Mallorca at the weekend means Real Madrid now sits seven points off the pace in La Liga. 

Historically, that's too much to surmount at this stage of the season; you wonder if winning the Champions League can salvage Alvaro Arbeloa's job.

For Bayern Munich, it should be business as usual. The fans will only have one more demand—more of the same, lads! 

Bayern are impressive in their league and only need a few more wins to wrap things up.

Arsenal must beat Sporting Lisbon. 

If the Gunners decide to underrate Sporting as they did to Southampton at the weekend, they will have themselves alone to blame. 

Mikel Arteta must know that his job is to work things out regardless of injuries or whatnot; the Spaniard won't have any excuses.

How do you explain Arsenal losing the cup final to City and then playing like nothing is at stake against the Saints? 

Arsenal players must also stand up to be counted. This is their chance for glory; they must step up.

Sporting Lisbon must be wary of Arsenal, too. All eyes will be on Viktor Gyokeres and Luis Suarez. 

Both players have something in common—they're the past and present marksmen at Sporting; comparisons will rule the media after this game.