Defending champions Real Madrid booked their place in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals after a tense battle with city rivals Atletico Madrid, winning 4-2 on penalties following a 1-0 defeat in the second leg at the Civitas Metropolitano. The result leveled the aggregate score at 2-2, forcing extra time and a dramatic shootout, where Real Madrid held their nerve to advance.
Gallagher’s Early Strike Levels the Tie
The Madrid Derby kicked off with a lightning-fast start as Atletico Madrid took the lead within just 30 seconds. A quick counterattack saw Rodrigo De Paul deliver a perfectly weighted pass to Conor Gallagher, who slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-0 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.
From that moment, Diego Simeone’s side focused on defensive solidity, keeping Real Madrid’s attack at bay despite constant pressure. Kylian Mbappé, leading the line for Los Blancos, struggled to break through Atletico’s defensive wall, and the first half ended with the hosts maintaining their narrow lead.
Real Madrid’s Second-Half Push Falls Short
Real Madrid intensified their attacks in the second half, determined to regain control of the tie. They created several chances but found Atletico’s defense impenetrable. In the 65th minute, Carlo Ancelotti made key substitutions, bringing on Lucas Vázquez for Luka Modrić and Eduardo Camavinga for Aurélien Tchouaméni to inject fresh energy.
In the 70th minute, Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to level the tie when Kylian Mbappé was fouled inside the box. The French forward skillfully dribbled past two Atletico defenders before Clément Lenglet pulled him down, earning Madrid a penalty. However, Vinícius Júnior failed to convert from the spot.
Despite Madrid’s relentless efforts, Atletico stood firm, and after 90 minutes, the match remained 1-0, sending the game into extra time.
Extra Time Struggles and Penalty Shootout Drama
Both teams showed signs of fatigue in extra time, leading to a cautious approach. With neither side able to find a winner in the additional 30 minutes, the match was decided by a penalty shootout.
Real Madrid converted four of their spot-kicks, while Atletico missed two, sealing Los Blancos’s passage to the quarterfinals. However, controversy erupted over Julian Alvarez’s penalty, which was disallowed by VAR for a double touch.
Post-Match Reactions
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid Goalkeeper): “We all know UEFA sees it clearly. I’m so tired of this victimhood with referees, of always crying about things like this.”
Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid Manager): “To anyone here: raise your hand if you saw that Julián touched the ball twice in the penalty. Come on! And? Ready? Nobody raises theirs. Another question.” “I’ve never seen VAR call to review a penalty in a shootout.”
Other Champions League Results
Lille 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (Dortmund advance to the quarterfinals)
Arsenal 2-2 PSV (Arsenal advance on aggregate)
Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (Aston Villa advance)
Champions League Quarterfinal Fixtures
The quarterfinal draw has set up exciting matchups, with first-leg ties scheduled for April 8 and 9, and second legs on April 15 and 16:
Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
Real Madrid vs Arsenal
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan
With some of Europe’s biggest clubs still in the hunt for glory, the race for the Champions League title is heating up.
