Arsenal delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg, inflicting a defeat that sees the Spanish giants match an unwanted record dating back to 2009.
Declan Rice’s remarkable free-kick double in the second half broke the deadlock after a tense opening period, before Mikel Merino added a third to give Arsenal a substantial advantage heading into the return leg at the Bernabéu. The result means Carlo Ancelotti’s side has now gone two consecutive Champions League matches without scoring for the first time in 16 years.
The last time Madrid experienced such a scoring drought in Europe’s premier competition was during Juande Ramos’ brief tenure, when they were eliminated by Liverpool in the 2008-09 season’s round of 16. That tie similarly ended in humiliation with a 4-0 defeat at Anfield contributing to a 5-0 aggregate loss.
Arsenal’s dominance was reflected in the statistics, with Madrid conceding 11 shots on target – another negative milestone not seen since that Liverpool defeat. The Gunners were particularly ruthless after halftime, with all seven of their second-half attempts either finding the net or requiring desperate interventions from Thibaut Courtois and his defenders.
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This European setback follows Madrid’s shock weekend defeat to Valencia in La Liga, which has severely damaged their title defense. With their domestic campaign faltering and now facing a mountain to climb in Europe, Ancelotti’s position appears increasingly precarious.
The Italian coach’s future may now hinge on the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona later this month, though even victory there might not be enough to save his job. Madrid’s history suggests major changes often follow such disappointing results – Ramos departed shortly after the Liverpool elimination despite having only been in charge for two months.
While Madrid’s comeback capabilities should never be underestimated, Arsenal’s three-goal cushion represents their most commanding position in a Champions League knockout tie in nearly two decades.
