A perfect night for Arsenal. They are up and about from the word go. However, Real Madrid did show some glimpses of their best in the first half. 

But in the second half, Arsenal dominated Real Madrid like a minnow team from smaller leagues. 

Declan Rice, with two stunning free-kicks, has now become the first player to score multiple free-kicks in a single UCL knockout game.

Mikel Merino also scored a beautiful goal to give Arsenal the important cushion they were looking for. 

Camavinga received a red during the fag end of the match and he will miss the second leg. 

But is it all over? When the team is Real Madrid, the game is not over until it's over. 

Arsenal will head to Berenbeau as favourites, but don't count out Real Madrid yet.

And, yes, Arsenal are still unbeaten against Real Madrid in UCL.

This was Koushik Biswas, bringing you all the updates of the match. I hope you enjoyed the coverage. Good night and see you in the next game.

Arsenal's #UCL record at the Emirates since 23/24 (inside 90 mins):

◉ 11 matches
◉ 29 goals
◉ 4 goals conceded
◉ 9 clean sheets
◉ 9 wins
◉ 0 defeats

Defending champions swept aside. 🧹 pic.twitter.com/J82l5xbUc6

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) April 8, 2025

🚨Full time | Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid

A special night for Declan Rice and Arsenal!

Declan Rice's brace and Mikel Merino's brace help Arsenal have a 3-0 lead in the first leg against Real Madrid. #ARSRMA #Arsenal #RealMadrid #UCL #ArsenalvsRealMadrid #DeclanRice pic.twitter.com/Gz5hOPAYd6

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 8, 2025

That's the second yellow card for Camavinga. He gets the red. 

Yellow card for Trossard.

In: Ben White

Out: Timber

4 minutes added as injury time.

🤯 Mikel Merino has scored more goals against Real Madrid than any other club in his career pic.twitter.com/PNbhlRP5il

— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) April 8, 2025

Declan Rice direct free-kicks scored in his career to date (matches with full data coverage):

◎ 0 - First 381 matches
◉ 2 - Inside 12 minutes vs Real Madrid tonight#UCL pic.twitter.com/icrJEHaeQ0

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) April 8, 2025

In: Brahim

Out: Rodrygo

In: Tierney

Out: Rice

In: Garcia

Out: Alaba

Arsenal are cooking now!

Mikel Merino sends in another side-footed curling shot from just the edge of the box, and Arsenal are cruising now. 

Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid

In: Trossard

Out: Saka

Yellow card for Camavinga. He will miss the second leg.

In: Vazquez

Out: Modric

HE DOES IT FOR THE SECOND TIME. 

Is it David Beckham in disguise? 

Declan Rice hits the top corner with another stunning, curling free-kick, and Arsenal extends their lead.

Arsenal 2-0 Real Madrid 

Incredible defending and save from Coutois. 

He first saved the shot from Martenelli, and David Alaba blocked the rebound shot. Merino then made another save from the second rebound ball. 

Arsenal should have scored here. 

Just about enough from Asencio to stop Rice from scoring his second. Partey with the through ball inside the box. 

Scoring a curling free-kick with Roberto Carlos in the crowd against Real Madrid.

Declan Rice won't be forgetting that one 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Pq3wu9rRMW

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 8, 2025

BEND IT LIKE WHO??#ChampionsLeague #UCL #ARSRMA pic.twitter.com/y0XlXnJyqO

— Pulse Sports Nigeria (@PulseSportsNG) April 8, 2025

Woooooowwwwwwwww!

Whaaaatttttttt a goooaaaallll!

It had to be a stunner to beat Courtois, and Declan Rice provided that. 

A curling free-kick from that Alaba foul. The ball came inside from outside the goal and defeated a fully stretched Courtois. 

Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid

Saka received the ball on the left and kept on drifting inside before a frustrated Alaba fouled him. 

Yellow card for Partey for a foul on Camavinga. Not sure if he knows anything about the collision. 

Jude Bellingham with another clever pass to find Mbappe inside the box.

But after a poor first touch, Mbappe made it tougher for himself to find the angle from left.

His effort hit the side net. 

Dua Lipa is at the Real Madrid vs. Arsenal UCL match 🌟 pic.twitter.com/ff4jDdgqbP

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 8, 2025

Arsenal start the second half. 

No changes from either teams

21 - Thibaut Courtois has saved 21 of the last 26 shots on target he has faced in the Champions League, including the last 10 (7 vs Atlético de Madrid and 3 vs Arsenal). Giant. pic.twitter.com/1SzTFnRuIg

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 8, 2025

It is goalless at the end of the first half. 

But, the game was fascinating with Real Madrid and Arsenal looking threatening throughout the 45 minutes. 

Saka created a few chances for Arsenal, while Courtois made a few great saves. Mbappe had the best chance of the game so far but could not latch on.

Surely goals are coming in the second half. 

Stay tuned. 

2 minutes added as injury time in the first half.

Courtois keeps it level. 

He first saved Declan Rice's header from close range and then saved the rebound shot from Marteneli. 

Saka again got the better off Alaba and set another cross from right. 

However, this time, Marteneli was just ahead of the cross from Saka. 

Wooooowww..what a chance for Arsenal.

What a ball from Saka!

From the right, he was able to find the gap and send in a perfect cross for anyone from his team to tap in. 

Rice was not that far. But, a missed chance for the home side. 

ARSENAL CLOSE!! Brilliant from Saka no Arsenal player was ready to pounce!#ChampionsLeague #UCL #ARSRMA pic.twitter.com/BRohZNRrLf

— Pulse Sports Nigeria (@PulseSportsNG) April 8, 2025

Martin Odegard, who burst onto the scene as a Real Madrid wonderkid, is now leading Arsenal against Real Madrid.

That was a fabulous ball from Jude Bellingham. He found Kylian Mbappe making a quick run, alone, inside the box. 

However, Mbappe was not threatening enough to beat Raya. 

Nearly for Kylian Mbappe. A dangerous ball from Vini, found Mbappe making a run inside the box. 

Countered by Timber and Partey, Mbappe went for a shot.

The shot went over the goal. However, Mbappe was already offside leading to the play. 

Vinicius Jr, again from the left, went for a right-footed shot. 

The curling shot did not curl enough to be on target. 

During the earlier play, Rice's shot was blocked by Asencio. The block did hit the hand. A VAR check was done. But, no penalty was given.

Martenelli made a good run on the left and his cross found Rice making an effort with a side volley. 

Ascencio blocked Rice's shot. 

Partey tried his luck in the rebound, but Courtois saved his shot.

The atmosphere is just electric. 

Arsenal are having the upper hand with nearly five attacks already. In the meantime, Real Madrid looked threatening with counterattacks. 

Myles Lewis-Skelly (18Y 194D) is the second youngest Englishman to start a Champions League quarter-final after Jude Bellingham vs. Man City in 2021 (17Y 281D).

And they both share the pitch together at the Emirates this evening. 🏟️#UCL pic.twitter.com/PWch0Fw5gs

— Squawka (@Squawka) April 8, 2025

Vinicius Jr., from the left tries an ambitious shot. However, his shot went over the goal.

3 - Luka Modrić 🇭🇷 is the third-oldest outfield player to start in a UCL quarter-final (39y 211d), after Ryan Giggs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 in 2014 v Bayern Munich (40y 123d) and Alessandro Costacurta 🇮🇹 in 2006 v Lyon (39y 339d). Eternal. pic.twitter.com/L7RwU8G8mA

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 8, 2025

Kylian Mbappé had to catch up with Thierry Henry ahead of Arsenal-Real Madrid 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/gOxkVu3PLa

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 8, 2025

Nearly own goal from Camavinga. Corner for Arsenal. 

A mistake from Saka led Vinicius Jr. to run away with the ball. Vinicius' effort, deflected away off Saliba, went straight to Raya. 

Easy save from Raya as Mbappe made an effort from outside the box.

🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️

🧱 Kiwior partners Saliba
⚓️ Rice in the middle
🔙 Saka returns to the starting XI

Let's make it happen, Gunners 👊

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 8, 2025

📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
🆚 @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/qIsTYbaDS1

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 8, 2025

Vinicius Jr. will miss the second leg of the fixture, if he gets a yellow card tonight vs Arsenal. 

Thibaut Courtois will be back after missing the last three games due to a knee injury. Lunin is injured, by the way.

Raheem Sterling is suspended for this match after picking up three yellow cards.

Theirry Henry scored the only goal in meetings between these two clubs in UEFA Champions League. Henry scored in the first leg of round of 16 meet in 2005/06 Champions League, while the second leg was a goalless draw.

Arsenal won: 1

Real Madrid won: 0

Draws: 1

Football fans from India can watch the Arsenal vs Real Madrid UCL 2024-25 Quarter-final first-leg match on Sony Sports Network Channel. 

Moreover, they can watch the match LIVE on Sony LIV app and website as well.

Match: Arsenal vs Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-Final First Leg

Date: 9 April 2025

Time: 12:30 AM IST

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London