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Declan Rice joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Rivaldo in elite club as Arsenal stun Real Madrid
Declan Rice scored two outrageous free-kicks as Arsenal secured an incredible 3-0 win against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash. The England midfielder had never scored a direct free-kick in 328 professional games, but ripped Real apart with a magical set-piece double at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Rice scored not one, but two fantastic free-kicks against MadridGetty His second was unstoppable, hitting the top right-hand cornerGETTY His stunning performance earned him the Man of the Match awardGetty Rice netted his first on 58 minutes with a thumping curled effort that flew past Thibaut Courtois. He then did it again 12 minutes later to double Arsenal’s lead with a powerful strike into the top-right corner to leave Courtois helpless in goal yet again. Sitting in the stands at the Emirates Stadium was Madrid legend and free-kick master Roberto Carlos, who cut a stunned figure. As did Gunners captain Martin Odegaard, who put his hands on his head in disbelief when Rice completed his set-piece double. Prior to Tuesday’s match, Arsenal had failed to find the net from a direct set-piece in almost four years, with their last coming via Odegaard against Burnley in September 2021. Real Madrid had no answer to Rice’s brilliance and it got better for Arsenal with 15 minutes to play when Mikel Merino found the bottom corner with a well-taken low finish from the edge of the box. To cap off a miserable night for the 15-time European Cup winners, Eduardo Camavinga was dismissed for a second yellow in stoppage time. Rice’s brilliance saw him become only the fifth player to score two free-kicks in a Champions League match. He joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Rivaldo and Hakim Ziyech in the list, and is the first player to ever do so against Madrid. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “Declan’s been very determined because we have said in the last few months that we have not scored a direct free-kick in three-and-half years. “So, to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude and of that quality from the same player, a player that has never scored a free-kick before in his career, what are the odds? “This night was all about two factors; one is the atmosphere that we created 15 minutes before kick-off with something I haven’t seen before. And then the magic, the individual moments that decide all matches. And the first two goals from Declan sums up the night.” Merino’s exquisite finish followed Rice’s outrageous doubleGetty Arsenal now have a huge advantage heading into the second legGetty Madrid face an early exit from a competition they excel inGetty Madrid must now produce a stunning comeback at the Bernabeu next week if they are to continue their title defence. Boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “If you look at the game tonight there is no possibility (of a comeback at the Bernabeu) – but nobody expected Rice would score two goals from set-pieces, so in football anything can happen. “The possibility is low but we have to try 100 per cent, and do all we can. It is an opportunity to show a response to a poor game.” Arsenal, who reached this stage last season, haven’t played in the Champions League semi-finals since 2009. However, this could very much change in a few days time courtesy of a stunning first leg performance. Arsenal, 11 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League with just eight matches left, will play Brentford at the Emirates on Saturday before next Wednesday’s return rubber in the Spanish capital. Potentially awaiting them in the semi-finals is the winner of Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa. Their first leg is on Wednesday night in Paris, live on talkSPORT.
Declan Rice scored two outrageous free-kicks as Arsenal secured an incredible 3-0 win against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
The England midfielder had never scored a direct free-kick in 328 professional games, but ripped Real apart with a magical set-piece double at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Rice netted his first on 58 minutes with a thumping curled effort that flew past Thibaut Courtois.
He then did it again 12 minutes later to double Arsenal’s lead with a powerful strike into the top-right corner to leave Courtois helpless in goal yet again.
Sitting in the stands at the Emirates Stadium was Madrid legend and free-kick master Roberto Carlos, who cut a stunned figure.
As did Gunners captain Martin Odegaard, who put his hands on his head in disbelief when Rice completed his set-piece double.
Prior to Tuesday’s match, Arsenal had failed to find the net from a direct set-piece in almost four years, with their last coming via Odegaard against Burnley in September 2021.
Real Madrid had no answer to Rice’s brilliance and it got better for Arsenal with 15 minutes to play when Mikel Merino found the bottom corner with a well-taken low finish from the edge of the box.
To cap off a miserable night for the 15-time European Cup winners, Eduardo Camavinga was dismissed for a second yellow in stoppage time.
Rice’s brilliance saw him become only the fifth player to score two free-kicks in a Champions League match.
He joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Rivaldo and Hakim Ziyech in the list, and is the first player to ever do so against Madrid.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “Declan’s been very determined because we have said in the last few months that we have not scored a direct free-kick in three-and-half years.
“So, to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude and of that quality from the same player, a player that has never scored a free-kick before in his career, what are the odds?
“This night was all about two factors; one is the atmosphere that we created 15 minutes before kick-off with something I haven’t seen before. And then the magic, the individual moments that decide all matches. And the first two goals from Declan sums up the night.”
Madrid must now produce a stunning comeback at the Bernabeu next week if they are to continue their title defence.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “If you look at the game tonight there is no possibility (of a comeback at the Bernabeu) – but nobody expected Rice would score two goals from set-pieces, so in football anything can happen.
“The possibility is low but we have to try 100 per cent, and do all we can. It is an opportunity to show a response to a poor game.”
Arsenal, who reached this stage last season, haven’t played in the Champions League semi-finals since 2009.
However, this could very much change in a few days time courtesy of a stunning first leg performance.
Arsenal, 11 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League with just eight matches left, will play Brentford at the Emirates on Saturday before next Wednesday’s return rubber in the Spanish capital.
Potentially awaiting them in the semi-finals is the winner of Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa.
Their first leg is on Wednesday night in Paris, live on talkSPORT.
