Atletico fall to Real in penalty shootout, advancing Real to UEFA Champions League quarterfinals
Atletico Madrid faced a challenging encounter but ultimately triumphed in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
TroibNews 
Real Madrid triumphed over city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-2 in a penalty shootout to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. The dramatic last-16 encounter, which ended 2-2 on aggregate after extra time, unfolded in a lively atmosphere at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday.
Antonio Ruediger secured the decisive penalty for Real after the second leg concluded 1-0 in favor of Atletico, thanks to an early strike from midfielder Conor Gallagher. Real had previously won the first leg 2-1 at home but faced a setback when Vinicius Jr. missed a late second-half penalty.
Atletico were left aggrieved when forward Julian Alvarez had his penalty dismissed by the referee. He slipped, and his left foot made slight contact with the ball before he scored with his right, leading to the decision that invalidated what would have tied the shootout at 2-2.
Atletico's goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, saved a penalty from Lucas Vazquez, yet Marcos Llorente managed to score by converting the ball off the post, setting the stage for Ruediger’s winning kick as the defending champions Real pursue a record-extending 16th European Cup.
"In the end, a penalty shootout is a lottery," commented Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus. "I sensed that he touched the ball twice, and I told the referee. It’s not easy to see, and it’s bad luck for them. We didn't play our best game, but we got through, and that's the important thing."
Arsenal advanced to the quarterfinals with a dominant 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven, resulting from a second leg that ended 2-2. Arsenal had already established a strong lead following their remarkable 7-1 victory in the Netherlands last week. When Oleksandr Zinchenko scored in the fifth minute, PSV seemed at risk of another rout.
However, Ivan Perisic equalized for the visitors with a stunning goal in the 18th minute, providing the enthusiastic PSV fans with a moment of joy. Declan Rice restored Arsenal's lead with a header from Raheem Sterling’s precise cross before halftime, but PSV, showing significant improvement, found an equalizer through Couhaib Driouech's composed finish in the 70th minute.
Borussia Dortmund rallied to reach the last eight for the second consecutive year, overcoming Lille 2-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie. Goals from Emre Can, who converted a penalty, and Maximilian Beier, who scored the winner, secured a 3-2 aggregate victory for the German side.
This result marked a disappointing end for Lille, who aimed for a quarterfinal appearance for the first time after a promising campaign, having advanced directly from the league phase with notable wins over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Aston Villa advanced impressively into the quarterfinals with a straightforward 3-0 victory over 10-man Brugge in their last-16 second leg, leading to a 6-1 aggregate triumph. Marco Asensio, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, was the standout performer, netting a quick double after coming off the bench in the second half.
"Very happy for the victory," he stated. "We want more. Now we have a little break to think about the upcoming objectives."
Quarterfinal Matchups:
- PSG vs. Aston Villa
- Arsenal vs. Real Madrid
- Barcelona vs. Dortmund
- Bayern Munich vs.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
Antonio Ruediger secured the decisive penalty for Real after the second leg concluded 1-0 in favor of Atletico, thanks to an early strike from midfielder Conor Gallagher. Real had previously won the first leg 2-1 at home but faced a setback when Vinicius Jr. missed a late second-half penalty.
Atletico were left aggrieved when forward Julian Alvarez had his penalty dismissed by the referee. He slipped, and his left foot made slight contact with the ball before he scored with his right, leading to the decision that invalidated what would have tied the shootout at 2-2.
Atletico's goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, saved a penalty from Lucas Vazquez, yet Marcos Llorente managed to score by converting the ball off the post, setting the stage for Ruediger’s winning kick as the defending champions Real pursue a record-extending 16th European Cup.
"In the end, a penalty shootout is a lottery," commented Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus. "I sensed that he touched the ball twice, and I told the referee. It’s not easy to see, and it’s bad luck for them. We didn't play our best game, but we got through, and that's the important thing."
Arsenal advanced to the quarterfinals with a dominant 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven, resulting from a second leg that ended 2-2. Arsenal had already established a strong lead following their remarkable 7-1 victory in the Netherlands last week. When Oleksandr Zinchenko scored in the fifth minute, PSV seemed at risk of another rout.
However, Ivan Perisic equalized for the visitors with a stunning goal in the 18th minute, providing the enthusiastic PSV fans with a moment of joy. Declan Rice restored Arsenal's lead with a header from Raheem Sterling’s precise cross before halftime, but PSV, showing significant improvement, found an equalizer through Couhaib Driouech's composed finish in the 70th minute.
Borussia Dortmund rallied to reach the last eight for the second consecutive year, overcoming Lille 2-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie. Goals from Emre Can, who converted a penalty, and Maximilian Beier, who scored the winner, secured a 3-2 aggregate victory for the German side.
This result marked a disappointing end for Lille, who aimed for a quarterfinal appearance for the first time after a promising campaign, having advanced directly from the league phase with notable wins over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Aston Villa advanced impressively into the quarterfinals with a straightforward 3-0 victory over 10-man Brugge in their last-16 second leg, leading to a 6-1 aggregate triumph. Marco Asensio, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, was the standout performer, netting a quick double after coming off the bench in the second half.
"Very happy for the victory," he stated. "We want more. Now we have a little break to think about the upcoming objectives."
Quarterfinal Matchups:
- PSG vs. Aston Villa
- Arsenal vs. Real Madrid
- Barcelona vs. Dortmund
- Bayern Munich vs.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
