“Real Madrid HUMBLED! Declan Rice’s FREE-KICK DOUBLE Sends Shockwaves Through Europe!”
By , Springnewsng media limited April 9,2025
In a night that will go down in Champions League folklore, Declan Ricehttp://, Declan Ricei delivered a performance for the ages, scoring two astonishing free-kicks to lead Arsenalhttp://Arsenal to a 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.
A Night of Firsts for Declan Rice
Before this match,http://Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Rivaldo, and Hakim Ziyech in Rice had never scored a direct free-kick in his senior career. But under the Emirates Stadium lightshttp://Emirates Stadium lights, the £105 million midfielder rewrote history, becoming the first player ever to score two free-kicks in a single Champions League knockout game—a feat only previously achieved by legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Rivaldo, and Hakim Ziyech in the competition’s group stages.
The Free-Kicks That Stunned the World
- First Free-Kick (25.9m out) – After Bukayo Saka won a foul, Rice ignored initial plans to cross and instead curled a sensational strike past Thibaut Courtois, leaving the Real Madrid wall and goalkeeper helpless.
- Second Free-Kick (30 yards out) – Just minutes later, Rice stepped up again—this time from a tougher angle—and blasted an unstoppable shot into the top corner, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Arsenal Dominate Record-Holders Real Madrid
Beyond Rice’s heroics, Arsenal were relentless, registering 11 shots on target—the joint-most ever against Real Madrid in a Champions League knockout match (matching Liverpool’s 2009 tally). Substitute Mikel Merino sealed the win with a composed finish, ensuring a commanding lead ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Rice’s Post-Match Reaction
Speaking to Amazon Prime, an elated Rice admitted:
“It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over. Tonight, I just went for it. Bukayo [Saka] told me to trust it. The second one? Pure confidence. It hasn’t sunk in yet—there’s still another leg—but in a few years, I’ll look back and realize how special this was.”
What’s Next for Arsenal?
- Premier League: Arsenal host Brentford in a London derby (March 9).
- Champions League: The Gunners travel to Madrid for the second leg on April 16, aiming to avoid a Real Madrid remont
.
