REAL MADRID will face Arsenal in the quarter-finals after incredible drama in the penalty shootout!
Julian Alvarez seemingly scored his penalty only to have it RULED OUT by the VAR for hitting the ball TWICE as he slipped.
Real Madrid eventually went through 4-2 on penalties but the shootout will be remembered for that intervention.
During an enthralling Madrid derby, Connor Gallagher had scored a record goal – becoming the fastest English goalscorer in the Champions League after just 28 seconds.
Vinicius then had the chance to win the game in normal time for Real Madrid but smashed an AWFUL penalty well over the bar to keep Atletico alive.
Arsenal now face Real Madrid in the next round after they went through 9-3 against PSV following a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night.
Aston Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain after an impressive 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while Borussia Dortmund also progresses after beating Lille in the early game.
- Kick-off: 8pm GMT
- TV Channel/live stream: TNT Sports 3 / Discovery+
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Follow our live blog for updates…
-
A night of high drama – recap
In a night of full-on drama and high-end tension, Atletico overturned the first-leg deficit with a goal from Conor Gallagher in the first minute.
In the end though, they had Vinicius Junior to thank for the game reaching extra time after the Brazilian skyrocketed a 70th-minute penalty way over the crossbar.
He did not get the chance to make amends in the shootout either, but his team-mates spared his blushes, winning 4-2 on penalties. The shootout was not without drama, though; Julian Alverez’s converted spot kick for Atletico was disallowed by VAR as he touched the ball twice after slipping.
Speaking after the penalty shootout defeat, a furious Diego Simeone asked those in the press conference: “To anyone here: raise your hand if you saw that Julian touched the ball twice in the penalty.
“Come on! And? Ready? Nobody raises theirs. Another question…
“I’ve never seen VAR call to review a penalty in a shootout.”
Conor Gallagher of Atletico scored just 27 seconds into the match. -
In pictures – Atletico vs Real
Here are some of the best images from last night’s thrilling derby.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone screams at his players during last night’s match. 
Carlo Ancelotti, head coach of Real Madrid, reacts in his usual understated manner. 
Former Man City player Julian Alvarez was at the centre of controversy. 
Vinicius Junior’s blushes were spared by his team-mates after he blasted a penalty over the bar. -
In case you missed it …
Following last night’s dramatic Madrid derby, here is the quarter final draw:
Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan
PSG vs Aston Villa
-
First time ever?
Atletico Madrid defender Clement Lenglet was not so sure on the hugely controversial decision to overturn Julian Alvarez’s penalty.
He said: “We understood because the referee made the gesture.
“It’s the first time that this has happened on a football field.
“It was very strange.”
-
Endrick replacement
Ancelotti also revealed that Brazilian wonderkid Endrick was supposed to take the final penalty before a last-minute change.
Ancelotti added: “Endrick was supposed to take the final penalty, but he didn’t seem very confident, so we gave it to [Antonio] Rudiger instead.”
-
Ancelotti speaks
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has guided one of his teams to yet another Champions League quarter-final.
That’s 15 in his career, the most of any manager in the competition.
On the penalty, the Italian said: “We did not notice it, the VAR prompted us.
“I think he does play with the wrong foot.
“We can all be giving an opinion.
“If there is no chip in the ball, you can’t know scientifically.
“I think that in these decisions it would be better for the ref to go to the monitor and evaluate the images so that no one has any doubts.”
-
More from XCourtois
The Belgian added: “I felt like Julian touched the ball twice, so I told the referee. It’s a bit of bad luck.”
On the missed Marcos Llorente penalty, he added: “We trained so many times together.
“I know how he likes to shoot his penalties.”
-
Courtois hits back
Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois hit back at the Atleti boss and said: “I think Uefa sees it clearly.
“I’m tired of this victimhood, always crying over things like that.
“Referees don’t want to benefit a team, neither in Spain nor in Europe.
“They saw it clearly with technology and called it that way.”
-
Furious Simeone
Speaking after the penalty shootout defeat, a furious Diego Simeone asked those in the press conference: “To anyone here: raise your hand if you saw that Julian touched the ball twice in the penalty.
“Come on! And? Ready? Nobody raises theirs. Another question…
“I’ve never seen VAR call to review a penalty in a shootout.”
-
Emery speaks on Villa win
“We started the match under our expectations.
“They dominated the match. We didn’t play the first half like we planned.
“We spoke at half-time, changed some thing, tried to change something in our minds to play better and it was completely different.”
-
IFAB’s penalty rules
In relation to Julian Alvarez’s controversial penalty, here’s what IFAB (International Football Association Board) has to say.
Law 14.1, which concerns penalties in a shootout, states: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.”
Law 14.2 then relates to penalties taken DURING a match.
It reads: “If, after the penalty kick has been taken, the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded.”
So with an indirect free-kick unable to be applied during a shootout, cancelling Alvarez’s effort appears to have been the correct decision lawfully.
-
Arteta speaks on Arsenal win
“We started well and scored the goal We were ahead twice but unfortunately we didn’t mane to win the game.
“You could see in the second half we looked tired, we were late for a few things and we lacked a little bit of cohesion, making so many changes.
“Overall we are very happy because we are where we want to be.
“There were some players that deserved some football and I was very happy to give them a chance. There were a lot of things to improve.”
Credit: Getty -
Carlo reigns supreme
Carlo Ancelotti managed to keep his cool despite that nervy shootout.
The Italian is regarded as the king of European football.
And the win means he has now reached his 15th Champions League quarter-final – more than any other manager.
Ancelotti had previously been tied on 14 with Pep Guardiola – but Man City’s earlier exit to Real gave him the opportunity to pull clear.
-
Same old story
Atletico fans will have felt sick losing to Real once again.
They have now lost to their rivals FIVE times in the Champions League knockout rounds – including the 2016 final.
Only Bayern Munich have been defeated more times in the elimination rounds to a single opponent.
The Germans have lost seven times to – you’ll never have guessed it – Real Madrid!
-
Penalty controversy
VAR took just 20 seconds to conclude that Julian Alvarez had supposedly double-touched the ball while taking his penalty.
It was the cruellest way for Atleti to go out.
But then Marcos Llorente should have done a lot better with his missed effort.
While Jan Oblak, widely regarded as one of the best goalies in the past decade, will be having sleepless nights after failing to save Antonio Rudiger’s winning effort.
-
Champions League quarter-final draw
Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan
PSG vs Aston Villa
-
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (AGG: 2-2) PENS 2-4
What a way to go out of the competition.
Whether you have seen that before is another thing.
Julian Alvarez scored his penality but a VAR review adjudged he kicked the ball twice as he slipped when taking it.
As a result, it was chalked off with no chance to retake it.
It gave Real the adrenaline boost they needed to win the shootout.
Credit: AP -
Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties
-
Goal – Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid) 4-2
-
Penalty missed – Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madriid)
-
Penalty saved – Lucas Vasquez (Real Madrid)
-
Goal – Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid) 3-2
-
Goal – Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) 3-1
-
Penalty disallowed – Julian Alvarez (kicked ball twice)
-
Goal – Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) 2-2
