How Arsenal stunned Real Madrid on a famous night at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League

Real Madrid Football Club are rarely mentioned on the wrong side of proceedings in the UEFA Champions League. Not for nothing are they 15-time winners of the most prestigious club competition in the world. However, in an exhilarating first leg quarter final clash, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino schooled the reigning champions, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side left shell-shocked after two sublime free-kicks and a slick Mikel Merino finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Mikel Arteta’s men went into the tie largely pronounced as underdogs against the Los Blancos, although head-to-head records dating back to the 2005/06 season note an Arsenal win over two legs in a Round of 16 meeting, with the Gunners led French star Thierry Henry.
Arsenal opened the game on the front foot, with the fixture tipping in both sides’ favour, and ultimately ending with Arsenal opening the scoring through a rather exceptional free-kick. Midfield maestro and record £100 million signing Declan Rice stepped up in the 58th minute, curling an immaculate free kick past Thibaut Courtois to bulge the side netting.
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With more than 20 minutes to go, Rice featured again from a similar position, putting the game well in Arsenal’s favour owing to a near identical finish from a free kick as the clock struck 70 minutes.
David Raya and his defensive compatriots ensured that Kylian Mbappe and his attacking partners failed to convert a single chance at the Emirates. The Gunners made a total of 12 shots on target, forcing five saves out of keeper Thibaut Courtois.
To make things difficult for the Spanish giants, Eduardo Camavinga will not be available for the crucial fixture, given his sending off referee Irfan Peljto for kicking the ball away in frustration. The Frenchman was already missing the second leg owing to a yellow card picked up in the 68th minute for a foul on Bukayo Saka.
With a massive three-goal deficit to overcome in the second leg, Real Madrid will have to tap into their classic comeback gene, pulling off a tremendous turnaround in the second leg scheduled for the 17th of April at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday.