Jude Bellingham, a star for Real Madrid, acknowledged that Declan Rice’s free kicks during the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals one week ago caught him off guard.
The Gunners entered the second leg with high spirits after shocking their Spanish guests with a 3-0 score at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice had never scored from a free kick before last week’s match. However, in the 58th minute, the England midfielder bent a free kick around the wall to open the score.
To the surprise of everyone, including his own supporters, he scored another goal twelve minutes later, lifling it into the top corner.
Rice’s national teammate Bellingham expressed his surprise to the media prior to the second leg.
“Were we startled by Arsenal? I had never seen Declan Rice perform such a feat before, so his free-kicks were unexpected (laughs). So good for him,” he remarked.
Bellingham and Rice have played together for The Three Lions 32 times in a variety of events.
Rice had 44 appearances in various competitions this year, contributing nine assists and seven goals.
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