Real Madrid edged past Atletico Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
Despite Atletico’s 1-0 second-leg victory, which leveled the aggregate score at 2-2, Los Blancos held their nerve in the shootout to emerge 4-2 victors from the spot. The reigning European champions will now face Arsenal in the last eight after the Gunners’ emphatic 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven.
Gallagher’s Early Strike Sets the Tone
Atletico Madrid wasted no time in overturning Real’s one-goal advantage from the first leg, stunning the visitors with an opener inside just 27 seconds. Conor Gallagher, reacting quickly to Giuliano Simeone’s near-post flick, fired home from close range to ignite the Metropolitano crowd.
With the early lead, Diego Simeone’s men adopted a defensive-first approach, sitting deep to absorb Madrid’s pressure while remaining a constant threat on the counterattack. Their strategy proved effective, frustrating Ancelotti’s side and keeping them at bay throughout the first half.
Madrid Struggle to Break Down Atletico’s Resilient Defense
Despite their wealth of attacking talent, Real Madrid found clear-cut chances hard to come by. Atletico’s defensive solidity limited Los Blancos to just three first-half shots with an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.08—a testament to their struggles in the final third.
Meanwhile, Atletico continued to threaten on the break, with Julian Alvarez twice testing Thibaut Courtois from range. The game remained finely balanced heading into the second half.
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Missed Chances and Mbappe’s Moment of Magic
After the break, Madrid upped the tempo but failed to find the breakthrough. A speculative 35-yard effort from Aurelien Tchouameni symbolized their growing desperation.
However, a moment of brilliance from Kylian Mbappe looked set to change the course of the game. The French forward’s quick feet forced Clement Lenglet into a clumsy foul, earning Madrid a golden opportunity from the penalty spot. But to the disbelief of fans, Vinicius Jr. blazed his effort over the crossbar, squandering Madrid’s best chance to equalize.
Atletico nearly put the game to bed late on when Angel Correa’s thunderous strike narrowly missed the target, forcing the contest into extra time.
Fatigue Takes Over in Extra Time
With both teams tiring, extra time proved to be a cagey affair. Real Madrid pushed forward in search of a decisive goal, but Atletico remained steadfast in defense, content to take their chances in a penalty shootout.
Despite Madrid’s attacking power, Rodrygo was withdrawn before extra time, Mbappe remained largely anonymous, and Jude Bellingham struggled to impose himself. The biggest disappointment, however, came from Vinicius Jr., who was substituted before the shootout after an underwhelming performance.
Penalty Shootout Drama: Madrid Hold Their Nerve
As history has shown, Real Madrid always find a way in Europe—and they did once again in the penalty shootout. W
hile Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Dani Carvajal coolly converted their spot-kicks, Atletico Madrid faltered under pressure. Julian Alvarez and Marcos Llorente both missed, with Alvarez’s effort requiring VAR intervention in bizarre circumstances.
Madrid clinched the shootout 4-2, sealing yet another dramatic European victory.
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Heartbreak for Atletico, Inevitable Real Madrid
For Atletico Madrid, this defeat was another painful chapter in their ongoing struggles against Real Madrid in Europe. Despite an impressive defensive display and a deserved win over 120 minutes, their Champions League dream ended in familiar heartbreak. Diego Simeone’s side has consistently fallen short against their city rivals on the European stage, with history repeating itself once again.
On the other hand, Real Madrid’s Champions League pedigree remains unmatched. Even on an off-night, Los Blancos found a way to progress. While their attack faltered, their experience and composure from 12 yards ensured their passage into the quarter-finals, setting up an exciting showdown with Arsenal.
One thing is certain: in the Champions League, Madrid are simply inevitable.
