Declan Rice’s two unbelievable freekicks and a striker’s end from Mikel Merino gave Arsenal an emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid within the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday (April 8, 2025).
The hosts had the higher of the primary half as Real started slowly, with Eduardo Camavinga nearly conceding a calamitous personal objective when he blocked Antonio Rudiger’s clearance earlier than Thomas Partey shot straight at Thibault Courtois.
Real grew into the competition and threatened on the break, however Courtois was by far the busier goalkeeper and produced a stunning double save on the stroke of halftime to preserve the sport degree.
There was no stopping Rice’s opener, although, a fierce shot across the wall and past Courtois within the 58th minute for the midfielder’s first senior objective from a direct freekick.
Arsenal might have been two-up shortly after, however for extra heroics from Courtois, who produced a diving cease from Gabriel Martinelli adopted by one other from Merino in between David Alaba’s goalline block.
Rice’s second freekick was even higher than the primary, curled straight into the highest nook within the seventieth minute, to go away the 15-time European champions wanting shocked.
Merino then coolly fired substitute Leandro Trossard’s pull-back into the underside nook quarter-hour from time to give Arsenal a sizeable lead to take to Madrid subsequent week.
Real can have to try to overhaul that lead with out Camavinga, who was proven a second yellow card within the closing seconds for kicking the ball away.
The winner of the tie will face both Aston Villa or Paris St Germain within the semi-finals.
Published – April 09, 2025 02:50 am IST
