Declan Rice scored two incredible free-kick goals to help Arsenal to a famous 3-0 win over European Champions Real Madrid. Check out the best facts and data from the game with our Arsenal vs Real Madrid stats page.
Martin Ødegaard stood motionless on the edge of the Real Madrid penalty area, head in his hands. It wasn’t disbelief that Declan Rice had scored again – it was that he’d done that again. A second swerving, staggering free-kick past Thibaut Courtois, and a second moment where the Belgian goalkeeper – one of the finest of his generation – could only watch it fly past him.
In what Mikel Arteta had described as “the biggest game of his managerial career,” his team delivered their biggest result under his tutelage. A 3-0 win over Real Madrid in a Champions League quarter-final. A night of nerve, noise and mayhem at a raucous Emirates stadium.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal looked the sharper, braver side. They pressed high, moved the ball quickly and dominated territory, penning Madrid back in the opening exchanges, feeding off the energy of a febrile Emirates crowd.
There were early jitters from the visitors. Luka Modric gave the ball away on the edge of his own box before fouling Bukayo Saka. Antonio Rüdiger smashed a clearance into Eduardo Camavinga that spun just wide of his own post. Courtois had to claw a corner from underneath his own crossbar, and scramble again when another set-piece dropped loose in the area. Arsenal had 69% possession in the first 15 minutes, and Madrid were rocking.
The home side’s best route to goal looked to be through wide areas and set-pieces. Saka was electric, and one fizzing delivery across the face of goal deserved a finish it never got. Gabriel Martinelli caused similar issues down the left, setting up Thomas Partey for a low strike that Courtois had to palm away.
Madrid, though, always carried a threat in transition. Vinícius Júnior was a constant outlet and Kylian Mbappé gave Arsenal a warning sign when he broke clear only to see his effort fly over – and the flag go up late anyway. But the biggest chance came on the hour mark: Jude Bellingham, quiet until that point, slipped Mbappé in behind. The Frechman had time and space but his finish was tame, and David Raya got down to save.
Arsenal needed something special to beat Courtois. And that’s exactly what they got.
Rice had never scored a direct free-kick before in his professional career. But with the Emirates faithful holding their breath, he curled a curving, whipping free-kick round the ball and past Courtois. And then he did it again. Another free-kick, slightly wider. This time Rice whipped it into the top corner with Courtois flailing.
Rice is the first player to score two direct free-kicks in a Champions League knockout match. There can’t have been many better braces than that.
By then, Real Madrid were wobbling. The Emirates was bouncing. And Arsenal could smell blood. Mikel Merino added a third, sweeping in with his left foot after another slick move and a stunning double save from Courtois seconds earlier.
Madrid had no response. They managed just two efforts on goal in the second half and seven touches in Arsenal’s box. Camavinga’s second yellow, late on, capped off a miserable night.
Of course, there’s still work to do. The Bernabéu awaits, and Madrid have a special aura there. But Arsenal have a huge foot in the semi-finals after one of the most famous nights in the club’s history.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Arsenal vs Real Madrid stats from this Champions League quarter-final match at the Emirates.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
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Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid Stats: Rice Scores Two Wonder Goals To Put Gunners in Dreamland Opta Analyst.
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