Champions League: Arsenal Shock Real Madrid 3-0 as Declan Rice Dazzles with Free-Kick Brilliance

Arsenal pulled off a stunning upset on Tuesday night, defeating reigning champions Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium, according to Vanguard.

The night belonged to English midfielder Declan Rice, who delivered a masterclass in set-pieces, scoring two sensational free-kicks that left fans and football legends in awe.

Rice opened the scoring in the 58th minute with a perfectly curled strike from 25 yards out, bending the ball around the Madrid wall and into the top corner beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois. The goal was so impressive it even drew admiration from Brazilian free-kick legend Roberto Carlos.

Just ten minutes later, Rice repeated the magic, this time from 20 yards. His second free-kick was even more precise, again finding the top corner and leaving Courtois completely helpless. The Emirates erupted as Rice cemented his place as the night’s hero.

Arsenal weren’t done yet. In the 75th minute, Mikel Merino added a third after a flurry of chances from Gabriel Martinelli and other Arsenal attackers. Merino’s composed finish capped off a dominant performance by Mikel Arteta’s men.

Real Madrid’s frustrations boiled over in the closing minutes when Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for dissent after kicking the ball away, adding to the Spanish side’s woes on a forgettable night.

The emphatic win puts Arsenal in a commanding position ahead of the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 16, 2025. With a three-goal cushion, the Gunners are now on the brink of reaching their first Champions League semi-final since 2009.

Although Arsenal trail Liverpool in the Premier League title race by 11 points, this European campaign now offers them a realistic shot at glory—potentially their first-ever Champions League title.