Real Madrid triumphed over city rivals Atletico 4-2 on penalties to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals after an exciting last-16 clash that ended 2-2 following extra time at the Metropolitano on Wednesday.
Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive penalty for Real after the second-leg match finished 1-0 in Atletico’s favor, courtesy of an early goal from midfielder Conor Gallagher. Vinicius Jr. had missed a late penalty for Real in the second half.
Atletico were left frustrated when forward Julian Alvarez had his penalty in the shootout ruled out by the referee. He slipped, causing his left foot to briefly touch the ball before he kicked it with his right, making it a double touch and invalidating what would have been the equalizing spot-kick at 2-2.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak did save a penalty from Lucas Vazquez, but Marcos Llorente calmly slotted his penalty in off the post, allowing Rudiger to seal the win for defending champions Real Madrid, who are aiming for a record-extending 16th European Cup victory.
The Spanish giants will now face Arsenal in the quarter-finals. “In the end, a penalty shootout is a lottery,” Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois told Spanish TV Movistar Plus.
“I noticed that (Alvarez) touched the ball twice and I told the referee. It’s not easy to spot and it’s bad luck for them. We didn’t play our best game, but we got through and that’s what matters.”
Having won 2-1 in the scrappy first leg at Santiago Bernabeu, Atletico came out fast in the second leg, with Gallagher scoring after just 23 seconds, blasting in a first-time shot from Rodrigo De Paul’s low cross.
Atletico’s early goal put Madrid in an uncomfortable position, forcing them to patiently break down Atletico’s low defensive block.
Atletico were content to let their opponents dominate possession, trusting their ability to stay solid defensively while creating counter-attacking chances.
Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo all had underwhelming performances, unable to break through Atletico’s well-organized defense.
Alvarez was a constant threat on the counter, with Courtois making a series of saves to deny the Argentine forward. Real Madrid finally had a chance to equalize in the 70th minute following a brilliant run from Mbappe. Atletico’s Clement Lenglet held him back, resulting in a penalty being awarded, but Vinicius blasted his shot over the bar.
In the shootout, Mbappe converted first for Real, and Bellingham followed with a successful penalty after Alexander Sorloth had scored Atletico’s first.
Alvarez believed he had equalized, but following a VAR review, the referee ruled his penalty invalid due to the earlier infringement, leading to confusion in the stadium as the scoreboard was corrected.
Atletico couldn’t recover from that setback, and Rudiger sealed the win with a low shot that Oblak managed to get a hand to, but the ball deflected off his glove into the net.
“It hurts because we played a great game,” Oblak said to Movistar Plus. “We lacked a bit of luck, but the way it ended for us with Julian (Alvarez) penalty hurts a .. It’s a disappointing defeat… Heartbreaking.”
