Conor Gallagher scored in the opening minute of the second leg to bring Atletico level on aggregate, but Real Madrid advanced to the next round after winning the penalty shootout. Julian Alvarez’s spot-kick was disallowed for making contact with the ball twice before Marcos Llorente struck the crossbar.
Despite dominating much of the match at the Metropolitano, Diego Simeone’s side couldn’t break their long-standing European curse against Madrid. Gallagher’s early goal gave Atletico hope, but Madrid, renowned for their resilience, forced a 2-2 aggregate draw to take the contest to penalties.
Thibaut Courtois played a key role in keeping Madrid in the game, making several saves to deny Alvarez, while Vinicius Junior squandered a penalty by blasting it over the bar. Atletico looked poised to finally overcome their bitter rivals in Europe, but Madrid once again found a way to survive.
READ ALSO: Organizers Of Niger Delta Sports Festival extends registration to 7th Of March
In the shootout, Alvarez appeared to score for Atletico, but his goal was overturned after VAR confirmed he had inadvertently touched the ball twice due to a slip. Llorente also failed to convert, while Antonio Rudiger sealed the victory for Madrid with the decisive penalty.
Atletico had been cautious in the first leg, content to return to their home stadium with only a one-goal deficit, believing they could turn the tie around in front of their passionate supporters. The last time Madrid knocked them out was in the 2017 semi-finals, marking the final European match at the Vicente Calderón. With this being the first Champions League derby at the Metropolitano, Atletico were desperate to change their fortunes after painful defeats to Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 finals, as well as previous eliminations.
They made a blistering start, scoring just 27 seconds in when Rodrigo De Paul delivered a low cross that Raul Asencio failed to clear, allowing former Chelsea midfielder Gallagher to stab the ball past Courtois. Atletico then dropped back, absorbing pressure while waiting for counter-attacking opportunities.
Courtois had to be at his best, denying Alvarez several times, including a powerful shot and a near-post attempt before halftime. The Argentine forward tested him again early in the second half, but the Belgian goalkeeper stood firm. Meanwhile, Jan Oblak remained largely untroubled at the other end.
Sensing the need for change, Carlo Ancelotti introduced Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Vazquez to add energy to Madrid’s attack. This sparked their best move of the game, as Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe combined on a swift counterattack. Mbappe evaded Jose Gimenez but was brought down in the box by Clement Lenglet, earning Madrid a penalty.
Despite his struggles from the spot earlier in the season, Mbappe handed the responsibility to Vinicius, Madrid’s designated taker. However, the Brazilian forward succumbed to the pressure, sending his shot high over the crossbar as Atletico fans roared.
Angel Correa nearly won it for Atletico in the dying moments but blasted a half-volley over the bar, pushing the game into extra time. Both teams, exhausted yet determined, fought on with the match finely balanced.
In the penalty shootout, Mbappe and Bellingham converted for Madrid, while Alexander Sorloth scored for Atletico. However, Alvarez slipped while taking his penalty, causing him to strike the ball twice, leading to its disqualification after a VAR review. Oblak briefly gave Atletico hope by saving Vazquez’s effort, but Llorente’s miss proved costly as he hit the bar.
Madrid’s fate was sealed when Rudiger stepped up and slotted the winning penalty past Oblak, who guessed correctly but couldn’t keep it out. With that, Real Madrid booked their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Arsenal.
