Real Madrid once again crushed Atlético Madrid’s European dreams, knocking them out of the Champions League Round of 16 in a dramatic penalty shootout. This marks the sixth time Los Blancos have eliminated their city rivals from Europe, adding another chapter to Atlético’s painful history against them.
The match had everything—an early goal, missed chances, relentless pressure, and a controversial VAR decision in the penalty shootout that sealed Atlético’s fate.
Gallagher Strikes Early, Atlético Dominate
The game exploded into action as Conor Gallagher fired Atlético ahead within 29 seconds. A quick combination between Julián Álvarez and Rodrigo De Paul set up the English midfielder, who arrived just in time to finish past Thibaut Courtois.
From that moment, Atlético controlled the match. They suffocated Real’s attack, limiting their chances while creating several of their own. Álvarez forced Courtois into early saves, while Ferland Mendy struggled to contain Atlético’s smart movement on the right.
By halftime, Atlético had taken 17 shots, yet the second goal eluded them.
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Missed Penalty Shifts Momentum
Despite being second-best for most of the game, Real Madrid found a way back. In the 70th minute, Kylian Mbappé burst into the box and drew a foul from Clément Lenglet, earning a penalty. It was a golden chance for Vinícius Júnior to turn the tide, but his shot soared over the bar, sending Atlético fans into wild celebrations.
For a moment, it felt like the curse had been broken.
Extra Time Drama Leads to Shootout
The match remained tense. Ángel Correa nearly won it in the 90th minute, but his shot drifted just over. Extra time saw more drama—Antonio Rüdiger blocked Correa, Alexander Sørloth’s header tested Courtois, and Federico Valverde flashed a shot wide. Neither side found the breakthrough, leading to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
VAR Rules Out Atlético’s Crucial Penalty
The shootout took an unbelievable turn when Julián Álvarez slipped while taking his spot-kick. He accidentally struck the ball with both feet, causing it to hit the net. VAR intervened, ruling the penalty invalid due to a double touch. Atlético’s hopes collapsed.
Marcos Llorente smashed the crossbar, and though Jan Oblak got a hand on Rüdiger’s penalty, he couldn’t keep it out. Real Madrid sealed their victory, leaving Atlético devastated once again.
Another Painful Chapter for Atlético
Diego Simeone’s men fought bravely, but Real Madrid’s resilience proved too strong once more. The defeat leaves Atlético searching for answers, while Madrid march on in their pursuit of European glory.
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