Real Madrid Triumphs Over Atletico Madrid in Thrilling Penalty Shootout

Madrid, Spain — In a nail-biting clash at the Metropolitano Stadium, Real Madrid edged out Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on March 12, 2025. The match turned particularly dramatic as the teams fought tooth and nail across 120 minutes, setting up an electrifying penalty shootout.

Atletico struck first with an early goal from Conor Gallagher just 27 seconds into the match, leveling the aggregate score. The early lead ignited the passionate home crowd, yet Real Madrid maintained composure, battling back with critical saves from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to keep the match within reach.

The contest saw a turning point when Real earned a penalty kick in the 70th minute. Kylian Mbappe was fouled by Atletico’s Clement Lenglet; however, Vinicius Junior’s shot went over the crossbar, leaving Los Blancos frustrated as time waned.

With both teams unable to break the deadlock during regular and extra time, the match proceeded to penalties, intensifying the suspense. Julian Alvarez appeared to score for Atletico, only to have the goal disallowed after VAR ruled that he had double-touched the ball during his kick. This controversial decision left Atletico players and supporters in disbelief.

Real Madrid’s captain, Antonio Rudiger, ultimately secured victory for the visitors when he calmly converted the decisive penalty, sending the ball past Jan Oblak, who nearly got a hand to it. The shootout concluded with Marcos Llorente missing for Atletico, hitting the crossbar and sealing Real’s progression to the quarter-finals where they will face Arsenal.

“It was a tough match, and we had to fight for everything,” Rudiger said after the match. “Atletico was strong, but we showed our experience and determination in the penalty shootout.”

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti celebrated his remarkable 15th appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals, surpassing all other managers in the tournament’s history. Meanwhile, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid continued to experience Champions League heartbreak, marking the fifth time they have been eliminated by their city rivals.

“We played well, created good chances, but we lacked the finishing touch, especially in the penalty shootout,” Simeone expressed in a post-match interview. “We’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”

The intense rivalry continued to play out as Real Madrid now boasts a perfect record in penalty shootouts against Atletico in the Champions League, winning all six encounters since the tournament’s inception.

As the dust settles from this thrilling derby, both clubs will turn their attention to the upcoming quarter-final with heightened stakes and renewed determination for the final stretch of the Champions League season.