Arsenal rocked Real Madrid with a sublime three-punch combo Tuesday to take a commanding 3-0 lead into next week’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg.
Declan Rice scored two magnificent free-kicks – incredibly, the first direct free-kicks he’s scored in his professional career – and makeshift forward Mikel Merino netted an impressive one-touch shot from the edge of the area for a memorable night in north London.
And despite Arsenal’s remarkable three-goal outburst in the second half, Thibaut Courtois may have been Real Madrid’s best player. He made five excellent saves over the opening leg and was only breached by finishes of the highest quality. David Alaba and Jude Bellingham also prevented two Arsenal goals with goal-line clearances.
Rice seemingly followed an instruction from celebrated set-piece coach Nicolas Jover to bend his first free-kick around Real Madrid’s wall. He did so superbly as he powered in an unstoppable, curling effort from over 25 yards in the 58th minute.