Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher made history on Wednesday night, March 12, 2025, establishing himself as the fastest English scorer in Champions League history with his remarkable goal just 27 seconds after kickoff against rivals Real Madrid. Despite this impressive feat, Atletico Madrid could not secure their first Champions League victory over their arch-rivals, instead falling 4-2 on penalties after managing only a 1-0 win following extra time, leading to a tense 2-2 aggregate draw.
Diego Simeone's squad entered the round of 16 with the challenging task of overcoming a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Madrid, necessitating urgency from the outset. Gallagher's stunning opener rattled the Madrid defense, as he capitalized on Rodrigo De Paul’s assist to poke the ball past Thibaut Courtois, igniting jubilant celebrations among home fans at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium. This goal not only marked Gallagher's first Champions League goal but also allowed him to join the ranks of record holders, as it is now the quickest strike ever scored by an Englishman in the tournament.
"What a start from Atletico Madrid!" one commentator exclaimed as Gallagher's early strike leveled the aggregate score at 2-2, stirring hopes of overturning the disappointing first leg defeat. Gallagher's goal was also Atletico's quickest Champions League goal and highlighted his growing influence since joining from Chelsea last summer for £33 million.
Real Madrid, known for their resilience, began the match on the back foot but sought to regain composure quickly. Throughout the first half, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced to make numerous saves, particularly denying Julian Alvarez’s efforts multiple times as Atletico attempted to push their advantage.
Despite being stunned initially, Los Blancos began to mount pressure, and their experience showed through. Coach Carlo Ancelotti tried to inject fresh vigour by introducing Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Vazquez, yet Atletico maintained control for significant portions of the match.
Eventually, Real Madrid's pressure culminated when they won a penalty after Kylian Mbappe was fouled by Clement Lenglet. Unfortunately for Madrid, Vinicius Junior's attempt went high and wide, echoing the same sense of nerves among the players and the fans. With Atletico seemingly on the brink of victory, Angel Correa nearly sealed the win but missed high, forcing the match to extra time.
The additional period saw both teams battle fatigue but, within tense moments of play, each squad showed determination to advance. Ramos's penalty attempts opened the scoring for Madrid as they pushed to capitalize on the match's momentum swinging back to the left. Mbappe converted his penalty, adding to Atletico's woes. After a VAR review ruled out Alvarez's attempt due to him touching the ball twice during the run-up, the groundwork was set for the latter stages.
Unfortunately for Atletico, Marcos Llorente crashed his spot-kick against the crossbar - enduring yet another penalty miss, and Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive penalty for Real Madrid, sending them through to the quarter-finals where they will face Arsenal next.
Despite the loss, Gallagher’s standout performance catalyzed exciting prospects for Atletico this season. The England international has made significant contributions, amassing three goals and four assists this season, showcasing his relentless energy - something Simeone values highly within the squad.
The defeat to Real Madrid marks yet another chapter of disappointment for Atletico, who could not overcome their history of elimination at the hands of their rivals. They have now been knocked out by Real Madrid on every occasion the teams have met within the Champions League, dating back to the 2014 and 2016 finals, along with the earlier 2017 semi-finals where they again fell short.
Despite these hurdles, Atletico will look to learn from their experiences. With Gallagher now asserting himself as one of the key players and appealing to the squad's needs, both fans and pundits will keep their eyes on how this budding star continues to evolve through the remainder of the season, anticipating potential successes both domestically and across Europe.
While disappointment fell on Atletico’s shoulders after the penalty loss, Gallagher's remarkable, record-breaking start has put him on the map within the competitive atmosphere of the Champions League. His future shines bright, and for Atletico fans, perhaps this is just the beginning of Gallagher's impactful tenure with the club.