Real Madrid narrowly defeated Atletico Madrid with penalties of 4-2 to advance to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League on March 13, 2025, after the match ended 2-2 on aggregate.
The game, played at Atletico's home ground, Civitas Metropolitano, was charged with tension from the beginning. Atletico unlocked the scoring barely 30 seconds after kickoff, thanks to Conor Gallagher’s swift strike, marking the fastest goal ever scored by the team in the Champions League.
Real Madrid quickly found themselves on the back foot, having conceded with little time to adjust. This was the second time the Spanish capital team had allowed such an early goal, with the first being when Roy Makaay scored just 10 seconds for Bayern Munich during the 2007 Champions League.
Despite the early setback, Real Madrid responded with resilience. They equalized shortly after, demonstrating their championship caliber. Vinicius Junior played a pivotal role throughout the match, having been awarded a penalty kick in the 70th minute after being brought down by Atletico’s defense. Unfortunately for the visitors, he missed the penalty, causing the match to go to extra time with the score standing at 1-1.
With both teams unable to change the scoreboard during extra time, the match progressed to penalties. Tension mounted as Julian Alvarez of Atletico prepared to take the decisive kick, only for the penalty to be ruled invalid after his foot touched the ball twice during the run-up. This twist of fate brought Antonio Rudiger to the spot, and he confidently scored the winning penalty for Real Madrid, securing their advancement to the next round.
The results demonstrate the historic rivalry between these two teams; this match marked the sixth time Real Madrid and Atletico faced off on penalties, with Real winning every encounter. Since 2014, Atletico has often found themselves eliminated by Real Madrid at various stages of the Champions League.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to substitute midfield players early on spoke volumes about the challenges faced by Madrid's lineup. Although Luka Modric and Aurelien Tchouameni provided moments of brilliance, Atletico’s midfield presence proved superior for large stretches of the game.
Real Madrid will now advance to the quarter-finals where they will meet Arsenal, who triumphed over PSV Eindhoven. The upcoming matchup promises to be another thrilling encounter as the stakes rise higher with each passing round.
Post-match analysis indicates concerns for both teams. Despite triumphing at the end of the day, Real Madrid faces worries about their midfield's stability shown by the substitutions and the missed penalty opportunities. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid showed determination by leading early but need to refine their execution moving forward.
The game captivated football fans across Europe, and it serves as yet another reminder of the storied and often dramatic encounters between these two giants. Next up, Arsenal will brace for what could be another breathtaking series of football within the Champions League.