Nothing Special About Rice’s Free-Kick Goal Against Real Madrid
Former Arsenal defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst has dismissed Declan Rice’s stunning free-kick goal in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first-leg clash against Real Madrid, insisting the strike was only possible due to poor defensive organization by the Spanish giants.
The Dutch football legend, speaking on Ziggo Sports, backed the opinion of ex-Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who claimed Rice’s goal was a basic execution that should have been easily stopped if Los Blancos had set up their wall correctly.
Defensive Blunder Exposed
Rice broke the deadlock in the second half with a perfectly placed free-kick that curled around Real Madrid’s poorly positioned defensive wall, leaving goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stranded. However, Sneijder argued that the goal was more about Madrid’s tactical error than Rice’s brilliance.
According to the former Inter Milan star, Courtois anticipated that left-footed winger Bukayo Saka would take the free-kick, causing the defensive wall to shift too far to the right. This misjudgment left a gaping hole for Rice, a right-footed player, to exploit.
“The wall wasn’t positioned properly for that first goal,” Sneijder explained. “Courtois thought Saka would take it, so the wall was moved too much to the right. A right-footed player shouldn’t have that much space to shoot around the wall from that angle—it was a defensive mistake.”
Van Bronckhorst agreed, stating: “I fully support Wesley’s analysis. The wall was too far to the right, which gave Rice a clear path to score. A shot like that should be routine for any professional player in that position. Real Madrid’s poor setup made it look better than it was.”
Arsenal’s Commanding Victory
Rice wasn’t done after his free-kick, as he later added a second goal, with Mikel Merino also getting on the scoresheet to seal an emphatic 3-0 victory for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium. The result puts Arsenal in a strong position heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday.
Second Leg Preview: Can Real Madrid Stage a Comeback?
With the pressure now on Carlo Ancelotti’s side to overturn the deficit in front of their home fans, questions remain over whether Real Madrid’s defense can avoid similar mistakes in the return fixture. Nigerian fans and football enthusiasts worldwide will be watching closely to see if the 14-time European champions can pull off another historic Champions League comeback or if Arsenal will advance to the semifinals in style.
What’s Your Take?
Do you agree with Van Bronckhorst and Sneijder that Rice’s goal was overrated, or was it a moment of pure quality? Share your thoughts in the comments!
