UCL: Declan Rice scores twice as Arsenal stun Real Madrid 3-0

…Inter hammer Bayern in Germany

By Olaolu Joseph

Arsenal tore up the bookmakers’ predictions with an astonishing 3-0 win over favourites Real Madrid in Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

After a goalless first half, the Gunners produced a dominant second-half performance to secure a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg next week in Madrid.

Declan Rice scored twice from stunning free kicks, while Mikel Merino added a third to put the Londoners halfway into the semi-finals.

It was a night to forget for Carlo Ancelotti and his Madrid stars, whose woes were compounded when Eduardo Camavinga was shown a red card late in the game.

Real Madrid now face a daunting task in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, needing to score four goals without reply to overturn the deficit.

Elsewhere, Inter Milan claimed a vital 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in another quarter-final, first-leg clash.

Lautaro Martínez gave the Italians the lead in the 38th minute before Thomas Müller equalised for the hosts. However, Davide Frattesi broke Bayern fans’ hearts with a late winner just two minutes from full time.