Real Madrid will need to pull off one of their greatest European comebacks yet to remain in with a chance of defending their Champions League title after a shock 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.
Two stunning direct free-kicks from Declan Rice put Arsenal in complete control of their quarter-final first leg and Mikel Merino scored a clinical third to leave Real with a mountain to climb at the Bernabeu in next Wednesday’s decider.
Here’s how we rated the Real Madrid players…
Thibaut Courtois 7
Beaten three times but kept the score down with brilliant double saves in each half. Powerless to stop the three goals, which were all precise finishes.
Federico Valverde 5
Pegged back by the lively Gabriel Martinelli and looked like a midfielder being forced to play out of position.
Raul Asencio 4
Part of a shaky defence which gave up way too many chances and had Courtois to thank for a string of saves.
Antonio Rudiger 5
Could not close down Merino for Arsenal’s third goal in a display lacking his usual commanding presence.
Struggled to contain Bukayo Saka all night and predictably fouled the winger for the free-kick for Rice’s first goal. Cleared a Merino effort off the line during a spell of Arsenal pressure.
Luka Modric 4
As composed as ever in possession but often overrun in midfield by Rice and Co.
Eduardo Camavinga 5
Disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm with a series of sharp interceptions and cynical fouls in the first half but faded dramatically. Fouled Saka for Rice’s second free-kick and was shown a second yellow card in the dying minutes.
Jude Bellingham 5
Create a great chance for Kylian Mbappe with a defence-splitting pass and decisive at the other end, clearing a Rice shot off his own goal-line. But drifted in and out of the game.
Rodrygo 3
Wasteful in possession and well-handled by Lewis-Skelly in an anonymous showing.
Kylian Mbappe 5
Finished meekly when set through on goal by Bellingham in the first half, which would prove a costly miss.
Vinicius Junior 4
Had a couple of looseners in the first half but faded dramatically and barly registered in the second half.
Subs
Lucas Vasquez (Modric 71’) 5
Could not help Real establish a foothold in the middle of the park, where Martin Odegaard, Tomas Partey, Rice and Lewis-Skelly were excellent.
Fran Garcia (Alaba 79’) 5
Fared better than Alaba at left-back but Arsenal’s intensity had dropped by the time he was introduced.
Brahim Diaz (Rogrygo 84’) 5
Not enough time to make an impression on the game.
Not used: Guler, Endrick, Vallejo, Gonzalez, Garcia, Ramon, Mestre, Andres, Aguado.
