England midfielder Declan Rice scored two sensational free-kicks for Arsenal to put Real Madrid on the verge of Champions League elimination.
Champions League holders Madrid were the favourites to progress in the tournament ahead of their quarter-final tie with Arsenal.
The most successful team in European football, Real Madrid have repeatedly found a way in the latter stages of the Champions League.
However, it will take a miracle for Real Madrid to stay alive in the competition after Arsenal sealed a stunning 3-0 win in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal edged a goalless first-half before Rice broke the deadlock on the hour mark with a brilliant free-kick, bending his strike around Real Madrid’s four-man wall and beating Thibaut Courtois.
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Just over ten minutes later, Rice repeated the feat with an arguably even better strike, this time thumping one into the top corner past the helpless Courtois.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looked speechless when the cameras cut to him and put his hands on his head in almost disbelief.
Real Madrid talisman Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, gave a shrug of resignation on the halfway line as he was passed by Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.
Remarkably, Rice’s opener was his first ever goal from a direct free-kick. His quickfire brace also made him the first player to score two direct free-kicks in a knockout game of the Champions League.
Reacting to Rice’s second free-kick against Real Madrid, Premier League legend and ex-England striker Alan Shearer told Amazon Prime: ‘You thought the first one was impressive? Goodness me. The accuracy, the power, the bend and the control on it.
‘Thibaut Courtois left a big gap because he thought he was going to go over the wall. It just sensational. Courtois is nowhere near it. It is absolutely incredible.
‘If you take away Declan Rice’s two goals his performance back to front has been so impressive – his tackling, his driving forward with the ball.’
Arsenal’s night got even better five minutes after Rice’s second as Mikel Merino added a third, sparking more joyous scenes inside the Emirates Stadium.
Real Madrid’s night of pain continued late on as Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after giving away a free-kick.
Shearer added: ‘Three really incredible goals. It’s what they’ve deserved this evening.
‘The crowd got them going at the beginning, the players continued it in the second half. And what a chance they’ve given themselves.’
The result means Arsenal will take a 3-0 lead to the Bernabeu next week and have one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
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