Declan Rice's Double Leads Arsenal To Thrash Real Madrid In Thrilling UCL Quarterfinal First Leg

 

Declan Rice scores a brace, leading Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal at Emirates Stadium 

Arsenal delivered a statement performance with a dominant 3-0 victory over European heavyweights Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal encounter. 

Declan Rice set Arsenal on course to victory following his spectacular goals from free-kicks after a stalemate first half. Bukayo Saka facilitated the set-pieces leading to the goals. The winger nearly snapped the first half deadlock by creating a should-be assist that was narrowly missed by Declan Rice in front of the goal. 

Declan Rice stepped up for a free-kick drawn from Alaba's foul on Saka just outside the area and curled a sensational 30-yard strike around the wall, nestling it inside the top corner. Just twelve minutes later, Rice doubled the lead with another sublime free-kick, this time rifling the ball over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Thibaut Courtois neatly beaten.

As Madrid could barely get the ball around, Arsenal netted the third. Gabriel Martinelli squared a pass up with Merino inside the box, and the latter smacked the ball through the crowded box to beat Courtois to the goal. 

By and large, it was a disappointing outing for Madrid. The loss will be their heaviest defeat in a Champions League first-leg tie in a knockout stage encounter in twelve years. 

Overview 

Arsenal narrowly could have snatched away the first half but forced Courtois' save. Madrid felt the danger that Saka's prominence could bring near halftime. The Spaniards' defense witnessed how effective the Gunners' attacking forward can be. Raya made brilliant saves to stop Vinicius and Mbappe's attempts. Initially, the game was pacey and intense until the latter stages, which was excellent for Arsenal to stem the pace, considering the high energy that Madrid's attacking forwards can bring. 

Since Arsenal maintained possession by dictating the pace in the second half, Madrid were incapacitated, leaving them vulnerable and fatigued enough for the hosts to score two more goals. However, the goals came from the sheer brilliance of Arsenal. Neither Jude Bellingham nor Vinicius could fire up the team.