Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid (2-4), to Reach Champions League Quarter-Finals
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid (2-4), Real Madrid secured a dramatic victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash, edging past their city rivals in a tense penalty shootout after a 1-0 defeat in normal time. The win sends Los Blancos to the quarter-finals, where they will face Arsenal.
Atletico Madrid Strikes Early
Atletico Madrid wasted no time and scored just 27 seconds into the match, with Conor Gallagher tapping home a well-constructed move. The early goal put Real Madrid on the back foot, forcing them to chase the game.
Despite having a star-studded attack featuring Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo, Real Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half. Atletico Madrid defended well, while Julian Alvarez forced Thibaut Courtois into several crucial saves.
Vinicius Jr. Misses a Crucial Penalty
Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to turn the game around in the second half when Mbappe won a penalty after being fouled in the box. However, Vinicius Jr. stepped up and blasted his shot over the bar, letting Atletico off the hook.
Both teams had half-chances but couldn’t find a breakthrough in normal or extra time, leading to a decisive penalty shootout.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid, Penalty Shootout Drama
The penalty shootout was as chaotic as the match itself. Julian Alvarez appeared to score for Atletico, but replays showed he had made two touches before the ball hit the net, leading to the goal being disallowed.
Marcos Llorente then missed his spot-kick, hitting the crossbar, giving Real Madrid the advantage. Lucas Vazquez had a chance to seal the game but saw his penalty saved by Jan Oblak. However, Antonio Rudiger stepped up and converted the winning penalty, sending Real Madrid through.
Real Madrid Player Ratings
- Thibaut Courtois (7/10): Made crucial saves, couldn’t stop the early goal but did his job.
- Antonio Rudiger (8/10): Struggled early but redeemed himself with the winning penalty.
- Kylian Mbappe (7/10): Won the penalty but was not at his best.
- Vinicius Jr. (4/10): Missed a crucial penalty and had a poor game overall.
- Jude Bellingham (7/10): Improved in the second half and scored his penalty.
- Luka Modric (6/10): Struggled to influence the game.
- Federico Valverde (6/10): Played out of position but gave a solid effort.
- Rodrygo (6/10): Was quiet before being subbed off.
Final Thoughts
Atletico Madrid fought bravely and had moments where they looked like the better team. However, Real Madrid’s resilience in the Champions League once again proved too much. They now turn their focus to the quarter-finals against Arsenal.
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