Cesc Fábregas, former Arsenal player, said that he’d love to say the tie is done, but "Real Madrid is Real Madrid." The former midfielder and now TV pundit, a legend at Arsenal, was commenting on the match that saw the 'Gunners' win 3-0 on Amazon Prime.

"I’d love to say it’s over, but after the first goal, I said they needed the second, and after the second, I said they needed the third. But Real Madrid is Real Madrid," said Fábregas about a Real Madrid that has come back from a three-goal deficit three times in its history, the last being against Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1986.

How the Match Unfolded

After days of speculation, Real Madrid found out first-hand just how crucial set pieces can be when Declan Rice scored two direct free-kick goals and Mikel Merino added a powerful strike to leave the Spanish giants on the brink of elimination. With a commanding 3-0 win, Arsenal delivered a blow so strong that Real Madrid now needs a miracle to advance to the next round.

A Night to Remember for Arsenal

In a thrilling second half, Arsenal showed hunger and determination, despite missing several key players. They dominated a Real Madrid side that was complacent and lacked intensity. Arsenal’s first goal came from a perfectly taken free-kick by Rice, and just twelve minutes later, the Englishman struck again with another stunning shot. It was a historic night for Arsenal, who delivered their best European performance in years.

Real Madrid Collapses

Despite some crucial saves from Thibaut Courtois and clearances from David Alaba and Jude Bellingham on the goal line, Real Madrid collapsed. Hopes of a comeback faded when Merino sealed the 3-0 with a precise shot. With the tie all but decided, Real Madrid will have to rely on a miracle at the Bernabéu to stay alive in the competition.