Real Madrid were dismantled by Arsenal as the Gunners booked their spot in the Champions League semi-final.
When Arsenal learned that Los Blancos would be their opponent in the Champions League quarter-final, very few would’ve predicted the aggregate scoreline.
In the first leg, Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0, setting the tone before the return at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Though Madrid dreamed of a mighty comeback, it was the Gunners who won on the night, progressing to the semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate win over the Champions League holders.
Mikel Merino won Arsenal the game against Real Madrid
The first leg against Madrid belonged to Declan Rice, and the second saw Bukayo Saka earn high praise, as the winger redeemed himself by scoring after missing an early penalty.
Though the pair earned their applause, another player was a constant over both legs, and that was Mikel Merino.
At the Emirates, Merino scored a superb goal to give Arsenal the much-needed three-goal lead, and at the Bernabeu, the Spaniard was involved in the goals once more.
| Mikel Merino’s game in numbers vs Real Madrid |
| 2 assists |
| 1 shot |
| 1 penalty won |
| 32 touches |
| 2 key passes |
| 2 big chances created |
| 7 duels won |
| 3 fouls drawn |
| 4 clearances |
Not only did Mikel Arteta’s makeshift number nine record two assists on the night, but he was a force to be reckoned with when it came to duel-winning.
With seven duel wins over 90 minutes, Merino won more duels than William Saliba, and only one fewer than the Frenchman and Jakub Kiwior combined.
With only 32 touches, the Euro 2024 winner won a penalty, crafted both goals, and put in a defensive shift worthy of the headlines.
Merino writes his name into Champions League record books
Aside from his duel-winning supremacy, Merino also put his name up in lights for another reason.
For only the third time in history, an opposition player at the Bernabeu recorded two assists in the Champions League against Real Madrid, as noted by Opta’s Harvey Downes.
Merino completed the feat for the first time in six years, as Dusan Tadic did it for Ajax in 2019, following on from Predrag Djordjevic, who set up two goals for Olympiacos in 2007.
The Spaniard has had more joy in front of goal against Real Madrid than any other club in his career, something very few in world football can say.
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