Real Madrid are Champions League royalty. The competition’s first super club, they have also won six of the last 11 editions. Carlo Ancelotti, their coach, has no peer, having lifted the Cup with ‘Big Ears’ five times. But on a memorable night at the Emirates Stadium, all that counted for nothing as Declan Rice produced two stunning free kicks reminiscent of Zico, the Brazilian legend, as the reigning champions were routed 3-0. Mikel Merino, signed from Real Sociedad last summer, supplied the gloss with an instinctive, first-time finish as Gunners fans left the stadium in dreamland.
Real have made some great comebacks, not least against Manchester City in the 2022 semi-final, but this tie now looks beyond them. In truth, it was no more than Arsenal deserved after a sparkling display where Bukayo Saka shone as bright as Rice. David Alaba is one of the most decorated defenders of this generation, but he had absolutely no answer to Saka’s pace and trickery all night.
Rice’s first goal, in the 58th minute, saw him bend a free kick from a central position in at the near post, not dissimilar to Zico’s goal against Scotland at the 1982 World Cup. Thibaut Courtois, who heroically defied Liverpool in the 2022 final, anticipated the danger late, with the initial trajectory taking it well outside the post.
Merino swept home a stunning finish into the corner to make it 3-0 for Arsenal
When Arsenal were given another free kick 12 minutes later, this time on the left side of the D, Rice stepped up with an even more audacious effort. This time, it was curled into the far corner, hit with such precision, power and height that it struck the side netting giving Courtois no chance.
Five minutes later, Miles Lewis-Skelly laid the ball across the top of the box, and Merino swept home a stunning finish into the corner to almost take the roof off the stadium. By then, Real looked beaten. Vinicius Junior’s runs had been a sporadic threat in the first half, with Kylian Mbappe also full of energy and menace on the break. But after the interval, Arsenal seized control. And how!
For the Latest Sports News: Follow RevSportz
The post Declan Rice summons the spirit of Zico as Arsenal thrash Real Madrid appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports.
