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By Newsroom with Agencies
MADRID — March 12, 2025 — Real Madrid triumphed over Atlético Madrid in a thrilling penalty shootout at the Metropolitano Stadium, securing their place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 UEFA Champions League. After a 1-0 victory in the first leg, the second-leg encounter saw the two sides locked at 1-1 after regular time, with the match ultimately decided by penalties, where Real Madrid triumphed 4-2.
The match was marked by drama and controversy, particularly surrounding a penalty from Atlético Madrid’s Álvarez, which was controversially ruled out by the referees. Álvarez had scored in the shootout, but the goal was annulled after the referee judged that he had touched the ball twice, much to the dismay of Atlético fans and players alike.
Real Madrid knocked Atletico Madrid out of the UCL on penalties
A thread on the goals and how fans and players reacted pic.twitter.com/8lBMPAPg9J
— Nungua Burnaboy (@views09_) March 12, 2025
The shootout saw both teams experience moments of high tension. Atlético’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved a penalty from Real Madrid’s Lucas Vázquez, but the real turning point came when Atlético’s Marcos Llorente hit the crossbar, followed by Álvarez’s disallowed goal. For Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger stepped up to convert the decisive penalty, despite Oblak’s best efforts to deny him.
This penalty shootout victory marks another chapter in Real Madrid’s dominance in high-stakes derbies against Atlético. The two teams have faced each other in penalty shootouts on six occasions, with Real Madrid emerging victorious each time:
- Copa del Rey Final 1975: Real Madrid 4-3
- 3rd Round Copa del Rey 1979: Real Madrid 4-1
- Copa del Rey Semifinal 1980: Real Madrid 4-3
- Champions League Final 2016: Real Madrid 5-3
- Supercopa España Final 2020: Real Madrid 4-1
- UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals 2025: Real Madrid 4-2
The victory sent Real Madrid through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, where they will join top teams like Arsenal, Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, and PSG in the race for European glory.
In the end, it was a bittersweet evening for Atlético Madrid, who had come so close but were ultimately denied in the shootout. Oblak’s heroics and Álvarez’s disallowed penalty proved not enough to prevent Real Madrid from continuing their Champions League journey. With the win, the “Merengues” once again demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion in the most high-pressure of situations.
Real Madrid now looks ahead to their quarterfinal clash, with fans hopeful that their team’s resilience and experience in such intense encounters will carry them even further in the prestigious competition.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.