Here are 5 things to watch for in the Champions League this week.

The Champions League resumes this week with some intriguing first-leg quarterfinal matchups.

Here's what to look for in the action.

Match of the Week

The outstanding fixture comes from north London on Tuesday night, when Arsenal face holders Real Madrid for the first time since 2006.

The Gunners are apparently planning a boisterous welcome for Real to make things as terrifying as possible, and the return of Bukayo Saka may also be enough to frighten the visitors.

Madrid is coming off a disputed loss to Valencia, but they always come alive when that iconic hymn plays, and they have won all four previous Champions League quarter-final journeys to England's capital.

Interestingly, Los Blancos have defeated more different teams (111) than any other club in competitive history, but Arsenal has now joined that list, having drawn one and won the other of their previous two meetings.

🔎 Team to watch.

Inter's defensive domination in the tournament has been very outstanding. Indeed, this has been the case historically.

The Nerazzurri hold the highest clean sheet percentage of any club that has played 10 or more matches in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign, having shut out opponents in eight of their ten games this season.

They have also eliminated Bayern in the only two knockout games they have played in the tournament's modern era, including a spectacular victory in the 2010 final in Madrid.

However, their unexpected collapse against Parma in Serie A last Saturday, when they drew 2-2 after leading 2-0 at half-time, may offer encouragement to the home side.

🔥 Player to watch.

Marco Asensio will have a rare opportunity to join the list of loanees who have returned to torment their original club in this competition when the Aston Villa playmaker comes to Paris to face the freshly crowned Ligue 1 Champions.

Fernando Morientes (Monaco vs. Real Madrid), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona), and Thibaut Courtois (Atlético de Madrid vs. Chelsea) are just a few of the most well-known examples of a player's permanent owner being embarrassed in this competition by one of their own.

After failing to hit the net in ten Champions League outings for PSG, Asensio has three goals in two games for the Villans (both off the bench), and if he scores again, it will be his highest scoring season in this event.

It almost appears destined to happen. Would you actually gamble against it?

Potential upset.

At this point in the campaign, there isn't (or shouldn't be) much between the remaining teams, but if Borussia Dortmund can defeat Barcelona away from home, it would undoubtedly go down as the most eye-catching outcome of the week.

Under Hansi Flick, the Blaugrana are flying high in LaLiga, but BVB is struggling this season, and there are serious concerns that they will miss out on Europe next year for the first time since the 2009/10 season.

Niko Kovač's team has shown good results, including recent wins against Mainz and Freiburg, following their defeat of Lille in the previous round.

Their continental performances have also given them reason to be optimistic, with only one loss in their last eight knockout games (last year's final) and three wins in their last three away elimination visits - the same number as in the previous 17 tries combined.

📊 A fascinating statistic

Bayern Munich have gone unbeaten in their past 22 home games in this competition (winning 17 and drawing five), and it has been an incredible five years since they lost at the Allianz Arena - 3-2 against PSG in April 2021.

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