Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez had a penalty dramatically ruled out in the shootout as Real Madrid edged out their city rivals to reach the quarter-finals.
2024/2025 UEFA Champions League
1-0
Match Report
Antonio Rudiger struck the decisive penalty in a dramatic shoot-out as Real Madrid edged past rivals Atletico Madrid despite a 1-0 second-leg defeat at the Metropolitano.
Champions League holders Madrid saw their 2-1 lead from the first leg wiped out by Conor Gallagher's close-range effort after just 27 seconds on Wednesday.
But there were no further goals across 120 minutes despite Kylian Mbappe winning a second-half penalty when he was fouled by Clement Lenglet.
Vinicius Junior blazed that spot-kick over the crossbar, yet the theatre from 12 yards was only just getting started.
1st - @vinijr has missed his first penalty kick as @realmadriden player in all competitions (eight taken, all them since January 2024). Momentum. pic.twitter.com/9sXc7gklPZ
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 12, 2025
With Madrid taking first in the shoot-out, Julian Alvarez believed he had levelled the contest at 2-2, only for a VAR review to identify a double-touch as the forward slipped and saw his finish clip his standing foot.
That strike was therefore disallowed, giving Madrid an advantage they did their best to squander as Jan Oblak saved from Lucas Vazquez.
However, Marcos Llorente could not capitalise on that reprieve as the next penalty bounced away off the crossbar, meaning Rudiger clinched a sensational victory when his decisive effort squeezed past Oblak, booking a quarter-final meeting with Arsenal.
Data debrief: Penalty pain again for Atletico
Diego Simeone appeared to celebrate when the final whistle blew in extra time, reaching a penalty shoot-out where his side have a strong record. Atletico had won three of their four previous Champions League shoot-outs.
However, the one exception was in a 2015-16 final defeat to Madrid, and Los Blancos have a remarkable hold over their rivals from 12 yards.
Vinicius may have earlier failed from the spot, but he was replaced before the shoot-out, and his team-mates maintained Madrid's stunning 100% record against Atleti in such situations. They have won all six shoot-outs between the sides in all competitions.
It was a brutal end to a night that had started so promisingly for Atletico, with Gallagher's goal their fastest ever in the Champions League.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' GOAL! Gallagher smashes it in after just 28 seconds. Atletico 1-0 Real Madrid
4' Rapid press! Oblak clears it over the line under Vinícius’s intense pressure
8' Atletico defenders misjudges, Vinícius shoots but gets blocked
12' Madrid misplay! Rüdiger’s pass rolls over the byline
16' De Paul strikes from outside the box, but Madrid blocks it
17' Bellingham fires a long pass, Vinícius races forward, but it's cleared
21' Vinícius’s pass hits Simeone’s arm, but the referee lets play continue
21' Álvarez goes for a long shot but misses the target
25' Gallagher drives forward, forcing Rodrygo into a foul
25' Álvarez bursts into the box and fires, but Courtois parries it with one hand
29' Modrić crosses, Mbappé goes down in the box, but the referee waves it off
29' Madrid takes a short corner, Rodrygo drills a low shot, but it's collected
35' Griezmann goes down under Vinícius, and the referee awards a foul to Vinícius
35' Griezmann's shot-cum-pass is saved by Courtois, diving to deny it
38' Mbappé goes down after a breakthrough, and the referee calls a foul on De Paul
39' Yellow Card! Tchouameni booked
40' Match Event for Atletico vs Real Madrid
41' Álvarez fires from a tight angle, but Courtois makes another save
47' Álvarez unleashes a powerful shot from outside the box, but Courtois saves it
48' Florentino Pérez watches the game live
52' Tchouaméni drives forward and takes a long shot, but it's wide by a fair margin
55' Mendy makes a mistake and Llorente's cross deflects, nearly resulting a goal
56' Rodrygo sweeps the ball across goal, but Bellingham‘s attempt is intercepted
58' Reinier bursts forward with pace, but Raúl Asensio successfully defends
59' Yellow Card! Vinicius booked
61' De Paul takes the free kick, but Lenglet heads it wide
65' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Madrid
66' Timeless class! Modrić flicks the ball over his marker
67' Simeone knocks down Vinícius and gets a yellow card
70' Penalty Missed! (Vinicius Junior)
72' Simeone fires a shot, but Courtois dives to make a stunning save
76' Rodrygo drives into the box, but Reinildo makes a crucial interception
78' Atlético goes for goal from the free kick, but Courtois catches it safely
80' Brahim Díaz comes on as a substitute, replacing Rodrygo
81' Camavinga helps Mendy tie his shoelaces
82' Injured Mendy can't continue and is replaced by García
85' Highlight from Atletico vs Real Madrid
88' Lino takes a long shot, but Courtois gathers it safely
Line-ups
Atletico XI: Oblak, Griezmann, Lenglet, De Paul, Gimenez, Mandava, Llorente, Gallagher, Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Barrios
Subs: Witsel, Azpilicueta, Lemar, Sørloth, Musso, Correa, Le Normand, Galan, Molina, Lino, Riquelme, Ilias Kostis
Real Madrid XI: Modric, Courtois, Rudiger, F Mendy, Mbappe, Valverde, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Raúl Asencio
Subs: Alaba, Vazquez, Brahim, Lunin, Fran García, Camavinga, Güler, Gonzalo García, Endrick, Chema Andrés, Fran González, Jacobo Ramón