Rice’s double fires Arsenal to 3-0 win over Madrid

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s two fantastic free kicks and a striker’s finish from Mikel Merino secured a 3-0 victory over shocked holders Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at The Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

The hosts had the better of the first half as Real began slowly, with Eduardo Camavinga almost conceding a calamitous own goal when he blocked Antonio Rudiger’s clearance before Thomas Partey shot straight at goalkeeper Thibault Courtois.

Real, bidding for a record-extending 16th title in the competition, grew into the contest and threatened on the break, though their few opportunities came from Arsenal errors and the visitors looked disjointed throughout the contest.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan’s treble chances are still very much on after they won 2-1 at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarterfinal to inflict the German team’s first home defeat in the competition in almost exactly four years.