Declan Rice scored two breathtaking free-kicks as Arsenal claimed a stunning 3-0 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid in their quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The first free-kick, when most were expecting Bukayo Saka to step up, saw Rice whip a sensational effort around the wall and just inside Thibaut Courtois’ left-hand post in the 58th minute.
The goal caused delirious celebrations among the home fans and Rice produced an even better one barely 10 minutes later, this time outfoxing Courtois by going across goal from the opposite side, his brilliant strike flying into the top corner to leave Madrid stunned.
Arsenal’s night got even better when Mikel Merino, again starting as a makeshift striker, sent a sweetly-struck first-time finish into the bottom corner from the excellent Myles Lewis-Skelly’s square pass.
Real Madrid’s collapse continued into stoppage time, when midfielder Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card.
Arsenal’s rampant second-half showing followed a breathless first period in which both sides had chances to score, with Thomas Partey seeing a header blocked on the line by his own team-mate, William Saliba, and Courtois making a double save from Rice and Gabriel Martinelli.
Real Madrid threatened on the break, with Kylian Mbappe blasting a one-on-one effort over before seeing another saved by David Raya, but the visitors, 15-time winners in this competition, offered nothing in the second half as Arsenal, inspired by Rice, seized complete control on a famous night at the Emirates Stadium.
More to follow…
Story of the match in stats…
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2025-04-08 16:00:00
