Arsenal hosted Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, aiming to secure a strong result at home. The Gunners delivered a statement performance, with midfielder Declan Rice scoring two sensational free kicks to put his team in control of the tie.
Real Madrid opened the match with a defensive approach, looking to capitalize on counterattacks while Arsenal dominated possession. The Gunners created the most dangerous chances in the first half but were kept at bay by a series of impressive saves from Thibaut Courtois. That all changed after the break.
Just 13 minutes into the second half, Bukayo Saka earned a foul just outside the box. Declan Rice stepped up and unleashed a thunderous strike in the 58th minute to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead.
Only minutes later, Saka was fouled again—this time by Eduardo Camavinga, who was shown a yellow card. Once again, Rice took the free kick, and once again, he delivered—curling the ball into the top corner to double Arsenal’s lead and send the Emirates crowd into a frenzy.
Mikel Merino sealed the 3-0 victory with a clinical finish off an accurate cross from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Arsenal now head to the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg on Wednesday, April 16, with a commanding advantage.
Declan Rice: Arsenal’s unexpected hero
Arsenal’s starting lineup featured plenty of attacking talent, including Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka. But it was Declan Rice—typically not known for his set-piece ability—who stole the spotlight with two brilliantly taken free kicks.
Prior to this match, Rice had played 338 club games for West Ham and Arsenal without scoring a single direct free kick. On one unforgettable Champions League night, he scored twice in 12 minutes, becoming the unlikely hero in Arsenal’s pursuit of European glory.
