Exclusive: Only a Miracle Can Save Madrid After Arsenal Defeat, says La Liga Ambassador Mutiu Adepoju

Nigeria football legend and La Liga ambassador Mutiu Adepoju says it will be "tough" for Real Madrid to reach the Champions League semi-finals after their 3-0 loss to Arsenal.

Declan Rice's brace led the Gunners to a 3-0 win over the defending European champions in the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Eduardo Camavinga’s red card compounded the misery for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, as they matched a 16-year-old record by failing to score in consecutive Champions League games for the first time since February-March 2009.

WHERE REAL MADRID FELL SHORT AGAINST ARSENAL

In the aftermath of their defeat in London, which dampens the Spaniards' pursuit of a record-extending 16th title, former Real Madrid midfielder Adepoju discusses where things went wrong against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

"It wasn’t a brilliant performance. Arsenal played very well and scored some beautiful goals. Declan Rice delivered two perfect free-kicks that gave them a two-goal lead, and then [Mikel] Merino — from my former club, Real Sociedad — added a third,” the former Nigeria captain told SportsBoom.com.

"You have to commend Arsenal for an outstanding performance, but I don't think Real Madrid reached their full potential at the Emirates Stadium and that was clearly reflected in the scoreline."

"What I know for sure is that they didn’t perform at their best and nowhere near their full potential."

"Vinicius [Junior] didn’t show the level we’re used to seeing from him, and the same goes for [Kylian] Mbappe. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s players were everywhere on the pitch, full of energy and intent."

Tuesday's defeat marked Real Madrid's joint-heaviest loss in the first leg of a UEFA Champions League knockout tie, matching their 4-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in the 2012-13 semi-finals.

CAN ANCELOTTI'S MEN STAGE A COMEBACK?

To reach the semi-finals, Real Madrid – who have now matched their record for the most losses in a single European Cup campaign – must score at least four goals against the Londoners without conceding.

When asked if Carlo Ancelotti’s team can get the job done at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on April 16, Adepoju stated: "There are still 90 minutes to play, and we all know what Real Madrid is capable of. But based on the Arsenal I saw, it’s going to be tough."

"If Madrid had managed one or two goals, you could say there's a real chance and it would’ve been ideal. It’s not impossible, but overcoming a three-goal deficit will be very difficult."

"Of course, we've seen Real Madrid come back from three-goal deficits or even more in the past. But the real concern is that they didn’t score at all yesterday and conceded three."

"It’s going to take a massive performance they’ll have to be at their absolute best to overturn that kind of deficit."

MADRID'S LA LIGA TITLE CHASE

Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes took a significant hit following their 2-1 home defeat to Valencia, leaving them four points behind leaders Barcelona with just eight matches remaining.

In addition, the team has now gone three matches without a win. While Adepoju dismisses any speculation of a mutiny within the squad, he believes their title chances depend on Barcelona's form.

He added: "Well, I don't think it's a crisis. it's just one of those things that happen in football. I watched the match against Valencia, where they conceded the first goal but managed to come back."

"Then they went on to concede a second goal in the dying minutes. So, I wouldn’t call it a crisis, sometimes teams just go through a dip in form. Players don’t always click, things don’t work out on the pitch, and that’s what I see happening here. It’s part of the game."

"Barcelona is performing very well, and while I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, it’s really about Barcelona not playing at their best — not hitting the kind of form they’ve been in before."