There was a noticeable sense of tension before the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal match between two of Europe’s biggest football teams, Arsenal and Real Madrid. Both analysts and supporters analysed every single tactical detail, every player pairing, and every way either team could obtain a significant edge. Given that both clubs have players who can both create and convert opportunities from dead-ball situations, set pieces emerged as a major topic of conversation among the primary areas of pre-match study.
The coaching staff of Real Madrid, who are known for their painstaking planning and attention to detail, were well aware of Arsenal’s possible threat from set pieces. Certain tactics and preparations were surely implemented in the lead-up to the much awaited match at the Emirates Stadium in order to neutralise any threat the Gunners might pose from corners and free kicks. It was always going to be vital for Thibaut Courtois, the custodian, to organise his defence and control his area during these pivotal moments.
But in spite of the risks that were expected and the careful preparation that the Real Madrid coaching staff had done, the game’s first goal came in a way that would have surely left the Spanish powerhouses’ staff angry and their fans in disbelief. Real Madrid had been particularly warned of and appeared to have prepared for the possibility of a free-kick, which led straight to the concession.
A free-kick given to the home team in a risky position just beyond the Real Madrid penalty area started the series of events that resulted in Arsenal’s first goal. A thrilling scene played out on the Real Madrid bench as Declan Rice, Arsenal’s skilled midfielder and dead-ball expert, was ready to take the set piece. Real Madrid’s seasoned and well-liked goalkeeping coach, Luis Llopis, was seen responding with obvious, almost desperate eagerness.
Llopis jumped off the bench right away after realising that Declan Rice may be dangerous since he could curl a shot over the wall and into the net. His movements were clear and expressive, and they were aimed directly at Thibaut Courtois, his Belgian number one. Llopis was clearly trying to warn Courtois about the particular danger of Rice’s curling shot, as if he was expecting the precise kind of attack the Arsenal midfielder would try.
His own goalkeeper coach was sending out clear, almost desperate, warnings from the Real Madrid bench, but the Spanish powerhouses would ultimately lose the free-kick. Declan Rice executed his free-kick with amazing accuracy thanks to his trademark poise and technique. His shot skilfully curved around the Real Madrid defence wall, which seemed to be too low or possibly too short to successfully stop the ball’s progress. Arsenal took an early and vital lead in the Champions League quarterfinal as a consequence of a flawless drive that went past Thibaut Courtois’s outstretched arms and nestled into the Real Madrid net.
There are significant concerns with the communication on the pitch and the degree of attention given to the precise instructions being given, given that Real Madrid gave up in this way in spite of their keeper coach’s clear cautions. It is astonishing that the Real Madrid defence, and especially their seasoned custodian, were unable to stop the situation that had been so obviously identified as a possible threat despite the advantage of pre-match analysis and real-time sideline alerts.
The fact that Arsenal would later score another goal from a strikingly similar set-piece situation, again masterminded by the in-form Declan Rice, added to the excitement and possibly also the shame for Real Madrid. Although Arsenal’s tactical staging for the second free-kick was slightly different, the fundamental intention was still the same: to confuse and disorient Thibaut Courtois in the Real Madrid goal.
In order to potentially block Courtois’ view of the ball in the early seconds of Rice’s goal, Arsenal used a screen made up of three of their players for the second free-kick. Martin Odegaard, the inventive midfielder for Arsenal, added another level of deceit by positioning himself as a decoy, possibly to attract the attention of Courtois or the Real Madrid defence. The outcome was another incredibly accurate shot from Declan Rice, this time with an unstoppable effort that found the top corner of the Real Madrid net.
Declan Rice’s two goals from free kicks in this game are supported by statistics that highlight how unexpected his heroics from dead-ball situations were. In his remarkable 339 appearances across clubs and competitions during his professional career, the English midfielder had surprisingly never scored directly from a free-kick before this match against Real Madrid. Rice’s growth and the efficiency of Arsenal’s set-piece tactics are demonstrated by the fact that he scored two such important goals in a single Champions League quarterfinal matchup against the defending champions.
Additionally, Arsenal’s success from free kicks in this game ended a lengthy losing streak for the North London team. Before Declan Rice’s incredible brace, the Gunners had not scored a goal straight off a free-kick since 2021, demonstrating how infrequent such an event is for them. It says volumes about the careful preparation and execution of Arsenal’s coaching staff and players that they were able to accomplish this feat twice in one game, against a side of Real Madrid’s calibre.
After the game, Real Madrid’s two goals from free kicks in this pivotal Champions League match will surely be a hot topic of conversation. The effectiveness of Real Madrid’s defensive wall, Thibaut Courtois’s placement and response, and the team’s overall readiness for Arsenal’s set-piece danger will all undoubtedly be questioned. The Real Madrid defence and custodian will come under more scrutiny because it appears that a specific warning was disregarded in the moments before the opening goal.
At the highest level of football, a keeper coach’s responsibilities go far beyond teaching shot-stopping skills. It entails preparing for particular situations, like set pieces, clearly communicating instructions to the goalie, and thoroughly analysing the risks posed by the opposition. Luis Llopis appears to have contributed to the recognition and dissemination of Declan Rice’s curling free-kicks’ danger in this particular case. It would surely be frustrating for the Real Madrid coaching staff that his cautions seemed to be ignored on the pitch.
One of the most seasoned and well-regarded goalkeepers in the world, Thibaut Courtois, will probably be asked if there is anything he could have done to stop either of Declan Rice’s free kicks from going in. Even though Rice’s shots were clearly well-executed, the first goal was exactly the kind of shot the keeper coach had cautioned against, thus Courtois’s location and response will need to be further examined.
As Real Madrid prepares for the second leg of the match, the psychological effects of giving up two goals from set pieces, particularly in a pivotal Champions League quarterfinal, may also be substantial. Their defensive preparations for the rematch at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium will surely become much more challenging given that Arsenal has such a powerful weapon from dead-ball situations.
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta’s team will feel much more confident after Arsenal’s success from set pieces. They will surely be an even bigger threat in future games now that they know they can score from free kicks, especially with a guy like Declan Rice who has never scored such a goal in his career. Much praise should be given to Arsenal’s coaching staff for their tactical genius in creating and carrying out these set-piece routines.
The two goals that the Spanish powerhouses gave up from free kicks will ultimately shape the story of this Champions League quarterfinal first leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid. As Real Madrid looks back on a game where they may have been undone by a preventable weakness, the fact that Thibaut Courtois apparently disregarded a specific warning about Declan Rice’s ability in the lead-up to the opening goal will surely be a major talking point and a source of regret. Real Madrid must now address their set-piece weaknesses if they hope to overcome the deficit and advance to the competition’s semi-finals, making the return leg in Madrid even more important.
