Declan Rice was the hero at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as Arsenal thumped holders Real Madrid 3-0 in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash, Afrosport reports.
The England international scored two stunning free kicks to help the Gunners maintain their unbeaten record against the 15-time European champions, who were the pre-match favourites on paper.
A famous night for The Arsenal
#UCL pic.twitter.com/rT8c7FGLAA
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 8, 2025
Kylian Mbappe came close to breaking the deadlock for the visitors, but the French forward failed to beat goalkeeper David Raya with his strike after he was played through by Jude Bellingham.
After Bukayo Saka’s low cross across Madrid’s goal failed to reach an Arsenal player, the hosts forced two quick saves out of Thibaut Courtois. Rice’s header from a Jurrien Timber cross was clawed away by the Belgian goalkeeper, who was on hand to deny Gabriel Martinelli’s subsequent rebound attempt.
The score was deadlocked after the first half, but Arsenal, who were the much better side, deservedly drew first blood 13 minutes into the restart. After Saka was brought down by David Alaba, Rice stepped up to take the resulting free kick from about 30 yards out, and the midfielder made no mistakes as his curling effort around the wall beat Courtois.
Mikel Arteta’s men were re-energised by the goal and were inches away from doubling their lead but for Courtois’ brilliance. The Belgian thwarted Martinelli’s initial effort, and Mikel Merino followed with a close-range strike that was cleared off the line by Alaba, while the Spaniard’s half-volley was once again denied by the Madrid goalkeeper.
Rice came close to getting his brace in the 68th minute but his rebound from a corner kick was cleared off the line by compatriot Bellingham.
The former West Ham United man will not be denied two minutes later as he found the top corner once more with a David Beckham-esque strike from another free kick, sending the home faithfuls into raucous celebration. He became the first player to score two direct free kick goals in a knockout stage match in the Champions League.
2 – Declan Rice is the first player to score two direct free kick goals in a knockout stage match in the UEFA Champions League. Precision. pic.twitter.com/loLhfmZ7sX
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 8, 2025
The Gunners had more to show, and a third goal came from Merino, who found the bottom corner with a sweeping strike from the edge of the box, having been teed up by a low cross from Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Eduardo Camavinga, who was going to miss the second leg anyway due to a yellow card he picked up in the 68th minute, was eventually sent off for dissent after kicking the ball away as Real Madrid suffered defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout stage match for the first time in nine outings.
Arsenal turned the tie on its head with three goals in 17 minutes to take their record against Los Blancos to two wins and one draw in their three meetings in European competition.
The Premier League team will be hoping Saka’s injury is not as serious as it looked, with the return fixture set for Wednesday, 16 April, at the infamous Santiago Bernabeu.
