In an amazing display of talent, Declan Rice scored two direct free-kick goals in the knockout stage match between Arsenal and Real Madrid. With this achievement, he made Champions League history, becoming the first player to do so. Full stadium art from the Emirates Stadium that day. Arsenal went on to win 3-1, delivering one of the biggest World Cup upsets against the reigning champions.
Rice’s remarkable performance included opening the scoring with a free-kick in the 58th minute, followed by a second stunning free-kick in the 70th minute. Rice’s goals showcased his world-class technical ability. They represented the moment when the tide started to turn in the game, leaving Real Madrid shaken psychologically and physically after being punished with set-piece goals.
Historic Achievement
Rice’s achievement is a historic first in Champions League history. He also became the first player in history to score two direct free-kick goals in a knockout stage match. This amazing achievement took the news by storm through the footballing world. With these goals, Rice joined an elite group of just four players to have scored from direct free-kicks for Arsenal in the competition.
Originally we were going to cross it but then I’ve just seen the wall and the goalkeeper’s position. So I was like, ‘do whatever you want’ and Bukayo was like, just do what feels good, Rice explained after the match. His faith in taking the free-kicks was massively rewarded, as both attempts had the entire Real Madrid back-line completely confused.
This performance not only etched Rice’s name in the record books but highlighted Arsenal’s prowess in set-piece situations. The team has netted an incredible 21 goals from set-pieces in all competitions this season, not including penalties. Rice’s leadership has been critical to achieving this historic milestone.
Match Dynamics
Real Madrid curled into the match in the first half with excellent structure on defense. Their manager and former World Cup winner, Carlo Ancelotti, has publicly applauded this tenacious display. “It’s been very difficult for us. We thought the team were strong coming into the game. In the first half we were organized,” Ancelotti stated, reflecting on his team’s initial performance. After sustaining pressure for only seven minutes, the wheels started to fall off soon after Rice’s opening goal.
After howler by Rice to open the scoring, Real Madrid never really looked like getting back on track. His second free-kick only compounded their woes. The sheer beauty of both of those strikes was recognized by Sky Sports’ Paul Merson, who simply called their goals “phenomenal.” The scuffed match report reflected this enthusiasm right back, describing the goals as “breathtaking” and dubbing them “magic moments.”
These two crucial free-kicks drew the East Duke game back to 2-2 from a 2-0 deficit. The loss was their biggest defeat in these games since 2018.
Late Drama and Aftermath
The drama would increase when Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga was sent off with a second yellow card. He was given a red card in stoppage time, further raising the stakes of the game. This dismissal only served to compound their difficulties on the evening and round off a woeful night’s work for the established European heavyweights.
Arsenal’s victory not only enhances their standing in this year’s Champions League but serves as a statement of intent. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, reflected on the atmosphere during the match, stating, “It’s about two things. The first is the atmosphere, which was like I’ve never seen even 15 minutes before kick-off. The second is magic moments. Declan’s free-kicks sum it up.”
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