- Declan Rice scored two sensational free kicks against Real Madrid in 3-0 win
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A jubilant Declan Rice said he had ‘the best feeling in the world’ after striking two astonishing free-kicks as Arsenal blew away Real Madrid at the Emirates.
After a goalless first half in this Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie, on 58 minutes Rice impressively curled his set-piece around the opposition’s defensive wall and past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
And 12 minutes later, the England man struck another free-kick home — this time picking out the top-right corner.
Rice had not previously scored from a direct free-kick in his career spanning nearly 350 appearances.
Mikel Merino later added a third to give the Gunners a three-goal advantage heading into next Wednesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu. They are seeking to reach the semi-finals of this competition for the first time since 2009 in their last realistic hope of silverware this season.
‘I don’t know if it will ever sink in,’ said Rice. ‘I fancied both (free-kicks) and to have the confidence, I am a bit speechless.
Declan Rice (right) revealed Martin Odegaard’s advice to cross the ball was ignored
The midfielder scored two incredible free kicks against Real Madrid on Tuesday night
Rice was the difference maker but Arsenal were by far the better side and deserved the win
‘It’s one of those moments, the best feeling in the world.’
On the first free-kick, he said: ‘Martin (Odegaard) was saying to cross, I said it doesn’t make sense and to chip it like that. We practice them all the time, (set-piece coach Nicolas) Jover is telling me to cross and it didn’t make sense.
‘Bukayo (Saka) said, “If you feel it, go for it”. I looked at the wall and keeper and said I could bend it and that’s what happened.’
And then on his second strike, he explained: ‘It’s far out, you don’t even realise. We were going to touch and set it, but (Kylian) Mbappe was stood too close.
‘He (Mbappe) was in the middle and I just went with it. I practice it a lot. I had the confidence after the first, I had nothing to lose.
‘I don’t think it will hit me what I have done to score twice.’
The England man now has eyes on attacking the Spanish giants in a similar fashion next week.
He added: ‘We are not going back to defend, we are going to attack and want to be in the semis.
‘We want to win this competition but we have another leg to go and take it one game at a time.’
Jude Bellingham admitted Real Madrid were miles away from their usual best
Mikel Arteta was left praising Rice’s two strikes and warned that Arsenal still have more in the locker to show.
He said: ‘He (Rice) has never scored a free-kick in his career, we have not scored a direct free kick since Burnley away in 2021. What are the odds?
‘It was two moments of individual quality and we have to show we can do that again next week.
‘We are in the middle of the tie. They were magic moments. We have a lot more to give.’
Jude Bellingham claimed his Real Madrid side were lucky to just concede three goals, but said they are ‘still alive’.
He said: ‘We were nowhere near it. Two of the goals are really good free-kicks but to be honest they could have had way more, we were lucky to get away with three.
‘But there is a second leg, we are holding onto it, we will need something unbelievably special. We are still alive, we still have 90 minutes.’
