Bend it like Declan: Rice Curls home two free kicks, while Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in Cl quarters

London, April 9 (AP) Declan Rice set up Arsenal to reach the semi -finals of the Champions League by curling two free kicks on which Real Madrid’s most famous “Galacticos” would have been proud of. Rice opened the standings by one free kick to bend the Madrid wall in the 58th minute and sent another one in the top corner in the 70th, while Arsenal won the first leg of the quarterfinals with 3-0 in Emirates Stadium. With Madrid -big Roberto Carlos watching the plots, Rice has a performance of strength and bend to the many free kicks the Brazilian defender achieved on his day – or by his teammates David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Figo for the case. Unlike these names, Rice was not yet known for his free kicking skill – until now. In fact, he has never recorded a direct free kick in his career. “It was in the locker room, but I hit the wall too many times or it’s over the bar,” Rice told the broadcaster Amazon Prime. “Originally we were going to cross it and then I only saw the wall and the position of the goalkeeper. So I just thought for that. ‘ Mikel Merino added the third in the 75th to place Arsenal on the edge to return to the semi -finals for the first time since 2009. In the other quarterfinals Tuesday, Inter Milan won 2-1 against Bayern Munich. The most important midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who was worse for Madrid, was sent for a second discussion on April 16 and will miss the return leg at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on April 16. Rice and Arsenal wing Bukayo Saka were both replaced after beating, but Arsenal driver Mikel Arteta said they did not have a serious injury. Only a handful of savings of Courtois prevented the scoreboard from growing even larger. “The second half was incredible, we played with full guest from the side,” Merino said. “If this side plays like that, the crowd goes together.” While Madrid can never be written off at home, even Coach Carlo Ancelotti did not sound too hopeful for a return. “If you look at the game tonight, there is no possibility,” Ancelotti said. “But in football everything can happen. We must believe. ‘ Kylian Mbappé had Madrid’s best chance in the 31st when he was played by Jude Bellingham, but the forward David Raya, Arsenal goalkeeper. It was the team’s first meeting since 2006, when Arsenal Madrid eliminated in the round of 16. It was also the last time Arsenal won the competition for the first time and lost the final against Barcelona. Judging by this show, Arsenal can be a contender again this year. In one of the biggest European evenings that the Emirates saw-the stadium that opened for the 2006-07 season-Arsenal delivered one of its best performances of the season against a team that won the Champions League since 2014. And for once in this competition, Madrid simply did not have an answer. It seems that the 15-time European champions were pleased to sit back in the first half and wait for counterattacks, but was back for the second time. “In the second half we forgot how to play good football. I wouldn’t say that we panicked, but we were not comfortable with the ball, ‘Courtois said. “They scored two wonderful goals of free kicks and added a third. We didn’t respond well, 3-0 are difficult, but we have to believe in this team. I believe it is possible.” And while Courtois pulled two spectacular double savings into the game, he couldn’t get close to one of Rice’s free kicks. “Maybe I could have put another man in the wall, but I didn’t think he could bend it like him,” Courtois said. “And the second goal is simply spectacular.” Rice added: “It’s not going to hit me now because there’s another leg to go. … but in a few years it will really strike me that what I did tonight was really special.” (AP) UNG