Declan Rice’s performance on Tuesday night left the Spanish media in disbelief as Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium thanks to his two goals from free kicks. Nobody, not even the Gunners’ followers, could have predicted this kind of outcome and pièce de résistance.
Prior to this week, Rice had never scored straight from a set-piece in his career. However, in a circumstance that could not have been more dramatic, he ended his hoodoo in north London against the defending European champions. His initial attempt curled outside the post and returned in around the wall, but his second attempt was a piledriver, which was so strong and precise that Thibaut Courtois had just a 3% chance of saving it, according to xG. Watch both objectives below:
With a spectacular goal of his own, Mikel Merino added the icing on top of the cake and put Mikel Arteta’s team in the box seat for their first Champions League semi-final since 2009, and only their third overall. While Rice has undoubtedly garnered the majority of the headlines in England, interest in the midfield player has also quickly expanded beyond Europe.
Spanish Media Wax Lyrical About Declan Rice
Everyone is in awe of the Englishman after his midweek masterclass
It’s safe to say that Rice’s performance has sent shockwaves across the very nation he will be visiting for the second leg next week. The Spanish press was equally astounded by how well-executed his free kicks were, praising him while denouncing Real. According to NogoMania, Marca wrote:
In the Champions League, Declan Rice’s cannon shots fatally injured Real Madrid. Courtois kept a dreadful Real Madrid flat, without ideas or a plan, from suffering an even greater beating.
Marca remarked, “This goal is incredible,” concentrating on Rice’s second goal. Rice gave an amazing performance tonight. Alvaro Benito, a retired football player, was quoted by AS as saying of Rice’s first goal: “Look at the tiny foul… What about the wall? Although the shot is amazing, you should hang one more. You can get that spin from a strong hitter. They needed to work on that. It’s a wall error.
Benito remarked, “Oh my God, what a goal kid!” in reference to the second. “If the first one was good, this one is excellent,” observed Dani Garrido, a fellow pundit. Madrid is on red alert.
“Declan Rice, settled into that stage of life we all dream of as children and only a select few can enjoy in the same match, in the best competition and against the reigning champion, unleashed two missiles into the top corner so devastating, so impressive, that he beat Courtois after one of the craziest performances – and it’s already difficult – from the Belgian custodian for Madrid,” wrote Manuel Jabois of El Pais.
xz
