Declan Rice scored two spectacular free kicks to lead Arsenal to a 3-0 win over defending champions Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday night.
The English midfielder broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, curling a free kick around the Madrid wall and into the near post, leaving goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois helpless. Just 12 minutes later, Rice struck again—this time bending the ball into the far top corner for his second goal of the night.
Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos, famous for his own free-kick brilliance, was in the stands to witness Rice’s standout performance.
Mikel Merino added a third goal for Arsenal in the 75th minute, giving the Premier League side a strong lead going into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 16.
Only a few impressive saves from Courtois kept the scoreline from getting even worse for Real Madrid.
“In the second half, we knew we had to score, and to get three goals is a great result,” Rice said in a post-match interview. “The manager told us to believe we could win, and we went out there and played as one team.”
This was the first meeting between Arsenal and Real Madrid since 2006, when Arsenal knocked Madrid out in the round of 16.
Despite the heavy defeat, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his side will fight back. “For 68 minutes, the game was even. Then they scored two amazing free kicks and we didn’t react. It got worse from there,” he said. “Now it’s tough, but we have to try.”
Real midfielder Jude Bellingham didn’t hold back in his criticism. “We were nowhere near good enough,” he admitted. “They could’ve scored more. We were lucky it was only 3-0. But we’re not out. If there’s one place where anything can happen, it’s the Bernabeu.”
Kylian Mbappe had Real Madrid’s best chances but was denied twice by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.