Real Madrid produced a gritty show to achieve the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-2 win on penalties in opposition to rivals Atletico Madrid, following a 1-0 defeat after further time on Wednesday. Diego Simeone’s aspect outplayed the file 15-time champions on the Metropolitano stadium for a lot of the sport, however Madrid have by no means been eradicated by Atletico within the competitors they usually battled arduous after Conor Gallagher’s first-minute opener to safe a 2-2 mixture draw. Thibaut Courtois made a number of saves to thwart Julian Alvarez and Vinicius Junior blazed a penalty excessive and broad for Madrid.
In the shoot-out, Alvarez scored for Atletico however his effort was controversially dominated out for seeming to the touch the ball twice due to a slip as he shot.
“The ball did not transfer,” complained Simeone. “I need to imagine they noticed he touched it (twice).”
Marcos Llorente additionally missed for Atletico and Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger struck the winner for the reigning champions, who will face Arsenal within the final eight.
“I needed to decide the coldest gamers doable (for penalties),” mentioned Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“I believe it is a lottery nonetheless, a toss-up, in the present day it got here in for us — Atletico exit with their heads held excessive as a result of they performed at a great degree.”
Atletico performed with warning within the first leg regardless of trailing, keen to take a single purpose deficit again to the fiery Metropolitano stadium, the place they believed they may actually flip the warmth up on their arch-rivals.
Real Madrid knocked Atletico out within the 2017 semi-finals within the closing European sport on the Vicente Calderon, with this the primary time the derby has been performed at Atletico’s new residence within the Champions League.
After defeats by Madrid within the 2014 and 2016 finals, the latter on penalties, and elimination on each different event the groups have met within the competitors, Atletico had been determined to vary the narrative, however got here up fractionally brief.
“I believe we performed an amazing match, however sadly we lacked a little bit of luck,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak advised Movistar.
“The fact is that one feels ache, it hurts lots.”
Atletico got here flying out of the blocks and took the lead after simply 27 seconds via Gallagher, levelling the tie on mixture.
Rodrigo De Paul’s low ball in from the appropriate was not lower out by Raul Asencio and former Chelsea midfielder Gallagher lunged in to beat Courtois from shut vary.
“We got here out as if it was already received and within the first transfer they scored a purpose in opposition to us, and that messed us up lots,” Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde advised Movistar.
Atletico had been content material to take a seat deep and absorb stress as Real Madrid pushed the ball round of their territory however had been additionally able to spring ahead on the counter.
Courtois saved on three events from Alvarez, who had scored an excellent purpose within the first leg.
Alvarez penalty controversy
With Atletico controlling the sport, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti introduced on Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Vazquez in quest of recent vitality.
Madrid quickly produced their finest assault of the sport, with famous person trio Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe combining on a fast counter.
Mbappe skipped away from Jose Gimenez after which was dragged down by the determined Clement Lenglet for a penalty earlier than he might shoot.
Vinicius stepped up, dealing with down a purple wall of whistling Atletico followers behind the purpose, and buckled below the stress, firing excessive and broad.
Madrid shaded extra-time as each groups appeared drained however pushed themselves to their limits with the match on a knife-edge.
Mbappe stepped up first from the spot and despatched Oblak the unsuitable approach, with Bellingham following go well with after Alexander Sorloth netted for Atletico.
Alvarez slipped as he smashed residence the hosts’ second penalty and after a VAR evaluation it was dominated out as he had touched the ball twice as he struck it.
Oblak saved from Vazquez’s weak penalty to place Atletico again on observe nevertheless it was short-lived as Llorente crashed his penalty off the bar.
Oblak dived the appropriate approach for Rudiger’s decisive penalty, getting a hand to it however he couldn’t preserve it out as Madrid marched into the final eight, after successful their sixth shoot-out in opposition to Atletico from six.
“We had been by no means out of the tie — at worst, it was even,” mentioned Ancelotti.
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