Arsenal produced a memorable performance at the Emirates Stadium, securing a dominant 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash. This historic win marks a significant moment for the Gunners, handing them a commanding advantage heading into the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu and maintaining their unbeaten record in head-to-head encounters against Los Blancos.
The atmosphere at the Emirates was electric, with both players and supporters eager to make their mark on this monumental night. William Saliba was involved in key moments at both ends of the pitch in the first half. The centre-back initially did well to intercept a Vinicius Junior cross, but moments later, he was inadvertently struck by a Thomas Partey flicked header on the goal line. Arsenal showed early attacking intent, with Raul Asencio denying Declan Rice’s attempt and Partey’s deflected shot being saved by Thibaut Courtois.
After the opening quarter-hour, both teams enjoyed periods of possession. Real Madrid had opportunities, with Vinicius Junior curling a shot wide and David Raya denying Kylian Mbapp� after he was played through by Jude Bellingham. At the other end, Bukayo Saka delivered two dangerous crosses across the six-yard box, but none of his teammates could connect. When Rice finally met a cross, his header was palmed away by Courtois, who also saved Gabriel Martinelli’s follow-up attempt.
Arsenal came out strong after the break, and Asencio was quick to rush out and deny Rice another opportunity early in the second half. However, there was no stopping the midfielder just before the hour mark. After Saka was fouled by David Alaba, Rice stepped up and curled a magnificent free-kick around the Real Madrid wall and into the back of the net, sending the Emirates into raptures.
The Gunners continued to press, and Courtois was forced to save a shot from Martinelli. Shortly after, a corner for Arsenal saw Mikel Merino’s shot, after a save from Courtois and Alaba on Merino, cleared off the line by Bellingham.
Remarkably, having never previously scored a free-kick in his career, Rice repeated his stunning feat just 12 minutes later. He sensationally picked out the top corner with another brilliant free-kick, igniting even more fervent celebrations among the Arsenal faithful. The icing on the cake came with just a quarter of an hour remaining when Myles Lewis-Skelly laid the ball off for Merino, who calmly stroked it home, securing a resounding 3-0 victory for Arsenal. This win marks their eighth consecutive match unbeaten across all competitions.
To compound Real Madrid’s woes, Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card in the final seconds for kicking the ball away. This defeat marks Real Madrid’s third consecutive loss in 90 minutes. While a three-goal deficit at the Bernabeu is a significant challenge, history shows that it would be unwise to completely dismiss a club that has progressed from each of their last 12 Champions League quarter-finals.
