Real Madrid faced off against Atletico Madrid on March 13, 2025, with their thrilling Champions League tie culminating in a dramatic penalty shootout. After both legs of the match concluded with a 2-2 aggregate score, emotions ran high at the Santiago Bernabéu as players prepared for the shootout. The defining moment came when Atletico's Julián Álvarez stepped up for his penalty, only to find it disallowed after VAR intervention due to what was deemed a double touch.
The unusual ruling created chaos for both players and fans as confusion spread across the stadium. Referee Szymon Marciniak consulted with the VAR team, assessing whether Álvarez had inadvertently touched the ball twice—an infringement according to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Rule 14 on penalty takers. Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid's goalkeeper, was quick to protest the decision, expressing his belief on the field after noticing Álvarez's unusual kick.
Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who was substituted earlier, shared his experience of the situation when speaking to Brazilian media, saying, "It was funny. I was on the bench with my teammates watching, and the way the ball came off his boots was really strange like he’d touched it twice." He continued to reveal how their bench reacted, stating, "We started putting pressure on the referee. He saw it, and sure enough, there were two touches. I’d never seen something like this before." Such confusion added to the tension surrounding the already high-stakes shootout.
Meanwhile, the drama of the match continued as the penalties progressed. Vinicius Jr. had another moment of distress, missing his shot and creating additional concern for Madrid supporters. Rodrygo acknowledged Vinicius’ disappointment but emphasized the importance of the victory, remarking, "He’s fine. It’s normal to have a drop in confidence when you miss a penalty. He’s happy with the win. Even though he missed, we won the shootout, and that's the most important thing.”
After Atletico's second taker, Marcos Llorente, failed to convert his penalty kick, Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid sealed the club's fate, scoring the decisive shot to conclude the shootout and secure Madrid’s place in the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his satisfaction with the victory, praising his team’s mental fortitude throughout the match. He remarked, "It was a very difficult match, Atlético played with intensity, but our defense was solid and we managed to stay firm... It's important to have players who know how to handle pressure, and we've shown great maturity.”
Reflecting on the officiation of Álvarez's kick, Ancelotti acknowledged the VAR intervention: "I think the referees had already detected it in the VAR when we realized it... I didn’t notice this. It seems to me he does touch it with his left foot afterward when I saw it.”
The aftermath of the match saw Atletico's manager, Diego Simeone, mounting strong criticism of VAR decisions. He contested the penalty ruling adamantly: "To anyone here: raise your hand if you saw Julián touched the ball twice. Come on! And? Ready? Nobody raises theirs. Another question," he stated, emphasizing the contentious nature of the decision among those present. Álvarez echoed similar feelings of surprise, asserting, "I didn’t feel anything [about touching the ball with both feet].”
Looking to the future, Real Madrid now prepares for their next challenge: taking on Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Rodrygo acknowledged the difficulty of this upcoming match, noting Arsenal's impressive performance, stating, "It’s going to be tough, as always... They're doing a great job both in Europe and the Premier League.”
This upcoming clash will not only test Madrid’s resolve but will also require them to improve upon their recent performances, particularly under the pressure of knockout stage football.
With multiple twists and turns throughout this match, the penalty disallowed due to Álvarez's controversial double touch will likely be discussed for some time. The drama surrounding the decision, coupled with the emotional highs and lows experienced by players, highlights the nail-biting tension and stakes involved at this stage of the prestigious Champions League.