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In what was one other Champions League basic on Wednesday evening, Actual Madrid booked their quarter-final ticket as they edged previous arch-rivals Atletico following an notorious penalty shootout on the Metropolitano.
Whereas Atletico might need returned to house soil on Wednesday chasing a one-goal deficit following their 2-1 loss on the Bernabeu final week, Conor Gallagher remarkably swept house after simply 27 seconds right here and despatched the Metropolitano assist into overdrive.
With possibilities coming at an actual premium on both facet of the half-time break, Brazilian celebrity Vinicius Junior had the prospect to win it from the penalty spot within the closing 20 minutes.
Nevertheless, with Madrid’s attacking talisman shockingly blazing over the crossbar, it all the time felt that Wednesday’s heavyweight showdown would head to spot-kicks.
With neither facet unable to bag a winner in extra-time, we had been then handled to one of the vital notorious shootouts in Champions League historical past.
With former Manchester Metropolis star Julian Alvarez adjudged to have clipped the ball along with his standing foot earlier than changing his effort, the penalty was dominated out following a VAR verify and despatched the competition virtually into pandemonium.
Fede Valverde transformed his penalty to place Los Blancos 3-1 forward and though Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Lucas Vazquez’s spot-kick to briefly give Atletico hope, Marcos Llorente rattled the bar and handed ex-Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger the prospect to jot down himself within the historical past books.
With the German worldwide watching his effort one way or the other squirm its well past a heartbroken Oblak, Actual Madrid will probably be greater than conscious that they dodged a significant bullet throughout capital.
Dragging themselves throughout the ending line right here and with luck definitely on their facet, Actual Madrid will now be placing collectively their plans for a quarter-final showdown in opposition to Arsenal.
In what was an evening of pure Champions League drama from the Metropolitano we’ve got taken a take a look at the primary speaking factors.
One thing about Los Blancos and European nights
Overcoming the chances as soon as once more final season as they secured an iconic fifteenth Champions League crown following a 2-0 victory in opposition to Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, there’s a cause why Actual Madrid are considered the kings of European soccer.
Though Carlo Ancelotti’s males might need an actual home title scrap on their arms, Los Blancos one way or the other all the time discover a technique to drag themselves over the ending line when on the European stage.
Claiming native bragging rights and handing their arch-rivals main Champions League heartbreak in their very own again yard, it’s no shock why many really feel that it’s virtually destined that Actual will make extra European historical past in 2025.
Extending on their Champions League journey final month and laying down an announcement of intent as they secured a 6-3 mixture win in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, Wednesday’s visitors are a power to be reckoned with over the ultimate couple of months.
Having fun with what was one other iconic European evening and with the playing cards as soon as once more falling of their favour, the remainder of Europe’s elite will probably be questioning simply who can formally cease Ancelotti’s facet from storming their technique to one more European closing.
How a lot may this heartbreak dent Atletico going ahead?
Whereas Atletico might need ultimately fallen to a 2-1 loss after they travelled throughout the capital final week, Diego Simeone’s males returned to the Metropolitano having taken loads of positives away from a gritty efficiency on the Bernabeu.
Dominating massive spells right here and getting off to a dream begin on Wednesday evening, Atletico suffered what’s going to lengthy be remembered as notorious European heartbreak on house soil.
Though Simeone might need been fast to passionately defend his gamers following the full-time whistle, you do surprise simply how a lot Wednesday’s heartbreak will take out of Atletico going ahead.
Opening their second-leg showdown having mustered only a pair of wins from any of their earlier seven appearances throughout all competitions, Atletico should discover a technique to mud themselves down rapidly.
At the moment sat only a single level adrift of climbing to the highest of the La Liga desk, Simeone’s facet face what’s one other season-defining showdown this weekend after they welcome bitter title rivals Barcelona to the Spanish capital.
Arsenal await within the closing eight
Edging previous their historic foes away from the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening, Los Blancos will now have their sights firmly set on what will probably be one other epic Champions League battle.
Watching Premier League giants Arsenal breeze their well past PSV following a exceptional 9-3 mixture victory, Madrid will probably be determined to gather one other iconic English scalp en path to claiming a history-making sixteenth European crown.
With the Gunners watching their Premier League title ambitions take a essential blow over the previous month, Arsenal have positioned all of their eggs within the European basket and know that Champions League success is their solely hope of claiming a chunk of silverware this season.
Nevertheless, already storming their well past Manchester Metropolis final month, Ancelotti’s celebrity squad will definitely be relishing a visit to north London for his or her first-leg battle on April eighth.
Match Report
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Reinildo, Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher, Griezmann, Alvarez
Subs: Azpilicueta, Le Normand, Lino, Molina, Correa, Sorloth
Actual Madrid: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy, Tchouameni, Modric, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
Subs: Garcia, Vazquez, Camavinga, Endrick, Diaz
Targets: Gallagher (1’)
Yellow Playing cards: Atletico Madrid: Simeone, Lenglet, Llorente, Azpilicueta – Actual Madrid: Mbappe, Vazquez, Tchouameni
Crimson Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Szymon Marciniak
