Arsenal delivered a commanding performance at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, defeating defending champions Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie.
The Gunners took control early in the match, with midfielder Declan Rice netting two sensational free kicks to put the home side ahead. Arsenal maintained their dominance throughout, sealing a memorable victory and placing themselves in a strong position ahead of the return leg in Madrid.
Currently sitting second in the Premier League—mirroring their finishes over the past two seasons—Arsenal have been in fine form domestically and carried that momentum into Europe.
Real Madrid, the reigning Spanish champions and last season’s Champions League winners after a 2-0 triumph over Borussia Dortmund in the final, now face an uphill battle. They are also second in LaLiga, trailing their historic rivals, Barcelona.
The second leg of the quarterfinal clash is set to take place at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real will look to overturn the deficit and keep their title defense alive.