Declan Rice scored two brilliant free-kicks as Arsenal claimed a stunning 3-0 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid in their quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
An 88th-minute Davide Frattesi goal also took Inter Milan to a 2-1 win at Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
The first free-kick, when most were expecting Bukayo Saka to step up, saw Rice, who had never previously scored a direct free-kick in his career, whip a sensational effort around the wall and just inside Thibaut Courtois’ left-hand post in the 58th minute.
The goal caused delirious celebrations among the home fans and Rice produced an even better one barely 10 minutes later, this time outfoxing Courtois by going across goal from the opposite side, his brilliant strike flying into the top corner to leave Madrid stunned.
Mikel Merino added Arsenal’s third goal before Real’s Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for kicking the ball away in the closing minutes to leave the Spanish giants in disarray.
Arsenal will travel to the Bernabeu for the second leg on April 16 as firm favourites to advance to a semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) or Aston Villa, who meet in their quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
The Gunners have not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2009, but that target is now within their grasp after an evening that will go down as one of the most memorable in the club’s storied history.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had labelled the clash with Real as the “biggest night” of his career as he urged his players to write their own history by winning Arsenal’s first Champions League crown.
Arteta: Arsenal ready to beat Real Madrid in Champions League
Arsenal trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by 11 points and look destined to finish as runners-up for a third successive season.
But the Champions League now offers Arteta genuine hope of a first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, providing they can finish the job in Madrid next week.
Beaten by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last season, Arsenal’s only Champions League final appearance ended in defeat against Barcelona in 2006 – a run that included a last 16 victory over Real.
Meanwhile, Inter opened the scoring on the 38-minute mark when Marcus Thuram’s clever back-heel found Lautaro Martinez who blasted home.
The Italians maintained control until Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller, days after announcing a summer departure after 25 years at the club, scored the equaliser with a typical poacher’s finish with five minutes remaining.
Not content to be spectators to a Bayern fairytale ending, Inter broke on the counter just three minutes later, with Carlos Augusto finding Frattesi, who scored Inter’s second.
The late goal consigned Bayern to their first home defeat in the Champions League since 2021, a run of 22 matches.
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