Real Madrid succumbed to "killer" Declan Rice

If they fail to overturn the deficit in the second leg a week from now at their home stadium, Bernabeu, reigning champions Real Madrid will officially become former European champions. This risk is entirely possible, as a three-goal deficit is too large, making it difficult for Carlo Ancelotti's team to stage a comeback.

Declan Rice shines with two spectacular goals to crush Real Madrid. Photo: ARSENAL.COM

Declan Rice shines with two spectacular goals to crush Real Madrid (Photo: ARSENAL.COM)

In recent seasons, Real Madrid has been making a name for itself in Europe's most prestigious competition, from being the only team to win the title three seasons in a row to successfully building a legend of a team possessing "champion DNA" that can win no matter how they play.

Real Madrid boasts numerous spectacular escapes, although they have also caused headaches for Madridistas with devastating defeats. Two years ago, "Los Blancos" suffered a humiliating 0-4 defeat against an English team (Manchester City). On the morning of April 9th, they conceded three goals without reply against Arsenal in London, the same place where, just months earlier, at Wembley, they had achieved their 15th Champions League title.

To call Arsenal's victory an earthquake wouldn't be an exaggeration. Arsenal's determination and willpower were evident in the efforts of every player on the field, and were concretized by the astonishing sharpness of Declan Rice. Never having scored from a free kick in his previous 338 matches, and without any particularly skilled strikers, the 26-year-old English midfielder rewrote history after just one memorable night in London.

In the 58th minute, Bukayo Saka earned a free kick for Arsenal from 26 meters. Declan Rice ignored the instructions of assistant coach Nicolas Jover and followed Saka's advice to take a "banana-shaped" free kick. Sports writers from the Independent and Caughoffside argued that Rice defied "all laws of physics," while former player Clarence Seedorf suggested that even Superman couldn't have prevented goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from conceding the first goal.

The story became even more dramatic with the second free-kick; instead of passing it back or sideways to combine with a teammate, Rice decided to shoot straight. And so, the most beautiful goal of the Champions League, and possibly of all of Europe this season, was born.

Not only did Declan Rice's two spectacular free-kick goals – along with Mikel Merino's third goal – help Arsenal put one hand on a semi-final spot, but they also indirectly secured a fifth Champions League spot for England next season, thanks to their resounding 3-0 victory over reigning champions Real Madrid, in accordance with UEFA regulations.

Real Madrid succumbed to