Declan Rice Shines As Arsenal Destroy Real Madrid
Declan Rice scored twice and Arsenal stunned Real Madrid to take a three-goal lead ahead of next week’s second leg of this chapions league quarter-final in Spain.
Arsenal were initially denied a penalty after Declan Rice’s shot hit the arm in the box of Raul Asencio. But it would be the midfielder to claim the lead in the second period as he bent a free-kick round Thibaut Courtois and into the net and then did it again shortly after to start a party in north London.
Mikel Merino found the bottom left-hand corner having received a perfect pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly. It would be the last goal of the night but Eduardo Camavinga would get a red card right at the end to make matters worse for Carlo Ancelotti.
For Rice, it was the midfielder’s arrival on the world stage, if he needed that, with goals to cap a towering performance. It was one for the ages from the 26.
And to think Rice had never even scored a direct free-kick before. Here were two of the very best we have ever seen – from fully 29 and almost 28 yards and against the best goalkeeper in the world. What a time to do it.
