Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice emerged as the hero of the night at the Emirates Stadium, scoring two sensational free-kicks to secure a commanding 3-0 victory over reigning Champions League holders Real Madrid in the quarter-final first leg. The England international revealed post-match that teammate Bukayo Saka played a pivotal role in his moment of magic, urging him to “feel the moment” before he stepped up to take the set-pieces that turned the tie on its head.
Rice, who had never scored a direct free-kick in his 338 previous career appearances, broke that drought in spectacular fashion on Tuesday evening. The first came in the 58th minute, after Saka was fouled by Real Madrid’s David Alaba, giving Arsenal a dangerous position just outside the penalty area. Initially planning to cross the ball as instructed by captain Martin Ødegaard and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, Rice changed his mind after a brief exchange with Saka.
“I saw the wall and the goalkeeper’s position, and Bukayo just said, ‘If you feel it, go for it,’” Rice told Amazon Prime after the match. “I thought, ‘You know what, I’m going to take this.’ When it went in, it was the best feeling in the world.” The 26-year-old curled a sublime effort around the Madrid wall, leaving goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois helpless as the ball nestled into the far corner.
Just 12 minutes later, lightning struck twice. With Arsenal firmly in control, Rice stepped up again, this time bending the ball into the opposite top corner with pinpoint precision. The Emirates erupted as the Gunners took a 2-0 lead, a scoreline that Mikel Merino extended to 3-0 with a composed finish late in the game. Rice’s second strike cemented his place in Champions League history as the first player to score two direct free-kicks in a knockout-stage match.
Reflecting on his newfound set-piece prowess, Rice admitted it had been “in the locker” but rarely executed successfully. “I’ve hit the wall too many times or sent it over the bar,” he said with a smile. “But tonight, against Real Madrid, in the Champions League, it just clicked. Bukayo gave me the confidence, and I’m over the moon.”
Saka, making his first start since returning from a four-month hamstring injury layoff, was instrumental beyond his words of encouragement. The 22-year-old winger tormented Real Madrid’s defense, particularly left-back Alaba, and won both free-kicks that Rice converted. Manager Mikel Arteta praised Saka’s impact, saying, “To come back in the time he has is unbelievable. He’s a top player, and tonight he showed his quality.”
The victory marks one of the greatest nights in Emirates Stadium history, ending Arsenal’s four-year drought of scoring from a direct free-kick—the last being Ødegaard’s effort against Burnley in September 2021. Arteta hailed the unpredictability of the moment, noting, “To score two in 12 minutes from a player who’d never done it before, against one of the best keepers in the world—what are the odds?”
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Rice and Arteta remained cautious, with the second leg looming at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 16. “It’s only half done,” Rice warned. “The Bernabeu is a different beast, and we need to be ready.” Real Madrid’s task was made harder by the late sending-off of midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who will miss the return fixture.