Arsenal stun Real, Rice delivers free-kick magic

Arsenal stormed to a stunning 3-0 win over Champions League holders Real Madrid as Declan Rice's free-kick masterclass left the Gunners within touching distance of a place in the semi-finals.

- Agencies

LONDON:

Rice scored two majestic free-kicks in the second half of the quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

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.

The brilliance of Rice's brace cannot be understated, with even Real keeper Thibaut Courtois -- usually so inspired on Champions League nights -- unable to get anywhere near the England midfielder's thunderbolts.

Incredibly, Rice had never scored a free-kick in his career before the first of his missiles hit the back of the Real net.

It was no more than Arsenal deserved for a mature performance that exposed injury-hit Real in ruthless style.

Mikel Arteta's men 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 or Aston Villa, who meet in their quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.