Declan Rice’s Free-Kick Magic: Arsenal’s Stunning Victory Over Real Madrid
In the world of football, there are moments that leave fans and players alike in awe, and Declan Rice’s recent performance against Real Madrid was one of those moments. The Arsenal midfielder, known for his defensive prowess, showcased a different side of his game that left everyone, including ESPN’s Ale Moreno, stunned. Moreno couldn’t fathom why Rice hadn’t been given more opportunities to take free kicks for Arsenal, especially after his two stunning goals against the Spanish giants.
On a memorable night at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal took a significant step towards their Champions League aspirations with a commanding 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie. Declan Rice was the star of the show, scoring the first direct free kicks of his 339-game club career, leaving Carlo Ancelotti’s side reeling.
The first half of the match saw Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé squandering the best chances for his team, but it was Rice who broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with a beautifully curled free kick. Just 12 minutes later, he produced an even more spectacular effort, finally beating Real’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, who had been in fine form throughout the match.
Adding to the drama, Mikel Merino scored Arsenal’s third goal just five minutes after Rice’s second, and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card for dissent. It was a night to remember for Arsenal fans, and Rice’s performance was the highlight.
After the match, Rice expressed his disbelief and joy at his performance. “To score my first free kick in a game is a special one. And then when I got the second one, I just had the confidence. I’m speechless, really,” Rice told Amazon Prime. “To beat Real Madrid in this competition. It’s a big night for us. When you score a goal, it’s the best feeling in the world. It didn’t make sense from that angle to cross the ball. It would have to be a delicate pass. And when I saw the wall, it didn’t make sense to cross. You know what, I’m happy I took it because it was magic.”
Rice’s words captured the essence of the night, a historical moment for him and Arsenal. “I don’t think it’s going to hit me what I’ve done tonight. It’s a historical night, and to score two goals against Real Madrid. We want to win this competition. But we have to take it one game at a time,” he added.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, was equally thrilled with Rice’s performance. He revealed that the team had been discussing their lack of goals from direct free kicks, with the last one coming almost four years ago. “Rice has been very determined [to take them] because we have talked in the last few months, we haven’t scored a direct free kick since September 2021, Burnley away, Martin Ødegaard,” Arteta said.
Arteta continued, “So it’s been a long time, and to score two goals in 12 minutes of that magnitude of that quality from the same player, a player that has never scored a free kick before in his career, I mean, what are the odds? Tonight we have one step in the right direction for sure. And now we have to go to the Bernabéu. We’re going to have to elevate the level again to be the team that we want to be there and to prepare the game to win it.”
- Arsenal’s last direct free kick goal was in September 2021.
- Declan Rice scored his first and second career free kicks in the same match.
- Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
As Arsenal prepares for the second leg at the Bernabéu, fans will be hoping for more magic from Declan Rice and the team. With their eyes set on Champions League glory, Arsenal’s journey continues, and Rice’s free-kick heroics will be remembered as a pivotal moment in their campaign.
Originally Written by: ESPN
