Real Madrid secured a nail-biting victory against city rivals Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout, advancing to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals after a 2-2 aggregate thriller at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday. The match, packed with tension and controversy, ended with Antonio Ruediger’s decisive penalty sealing a 4-2 shootout win for Real.
Atletico took an early lead with Conor Gallagher’s 1-0 second-leg goal, but a missed penalty by Real’s Vinicius Jr. in regular time kept the tie alive. Extra time failed to break the deadlock, leading to a dramatic shootout. Atletico’s Julian Alvarez saw his penalty disallowed for a double touch, a decision that sparked protests, while Real’s composure under pressure proved decisive.
Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois admitted the team “didn’t play our best game,” but emphasized the importance of progressing in their quest for a record 16th European title. The loss left Atletico ruing missed opportunities, including a saved penalty by Jan Oblak that briefly reignited their hopes.
