Real Madrid will take on Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League courtesy of a penalty-shootout success over bitter rivals Atletico Madrid in the last-16 stage of the competition on Wednesday night.
Conor Gallagher scored the fastest-ever goal by an Englishman in the Champions League when he sent Atletico ahead just 27 seconds into the Madrid derby, but that proved to be the only strike in regulation time.
Real Madrid did have a golden chance to level the scores on the night and move 2-1 ahead on aggregate in the 70th minute when Clement Lenglet felled Kylian Mbappe inside the penalty box, but Vinicius Junior fired his effort high and wide, with the Brazil international missing a penalty for Los Blancos for the first time.
It was 2-2 on aggregate at the end of 120 minutes of football, meaning that penalties were required to separate the two teams, and Real Madrid managed to edge past their rivals in the Madrid derby.
There was an incredibly controversial moment in the shootout, though, with Julian Alvarez's spot-kick effort disallowed by VAR for a double tap, while Marcos Llorente also hit the crossbar for Atletico, allowing Antonio Rudiger to win it for Real Madrid.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Atletico deserved more, and this will be a very, very tough one for the Red and Whites to take.
The contest will not go down as a classic, but Atletico's work over the 120 minutes of action should have been enough to earn them a spot in the quarter-finals, as Real Madrid found it incredibly difficult to get going at Wanda Metropolitano.
Vinicius, Mbappe and Jude Bellingham were all disappointing on the night, and it is cruel that the contest had to be decided by penalties, especially with the double tap from Alvarez proving to be crucial.
Llorente also smashed one against the crossbar in the shootout, but Real Madrid deserve credit for netting four of their five spot kicks in what was a red-hot atmosphere on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid, as they often do, have found a way, but this was not a performance that would strike fear into their opponents in the competition, and Arsenal might well be pleased that they are not taking on Atletico, who would have fancied their chances of keeping out the Gunners due to their centre-forward issues.
This is Real Madrid's competition, and it is always so difficult to back against them.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti has much to ponder, though, and there will be some fall-out from Vinicius' penalty miss and his underwhelming performance, which led to the Brazilian being withdrawn late on.
ATLETICO VS. REAL MADRID HIGHLIGHTS
Conor Gallagher goal vs. Real Madrid (1st min, Atletico 1-0 Real Madrid)
Incredible scenes here, as Gallagher sends Atletico ahead after just 27 seconds - it falls kindly for the ex-Chelsea attacker inside the penalty box following a cross from Rodrigo De Paul, and he fires into the back of the net from close range.
That is the fastest-ever goal scored by an Englishman in Champions League history.
Vinicius Junior penalty miss vs. Atletico (70th min)
Vinicius fires his penalty high and wide after Lenglet had brought Mbappe to the ground inside the box; Real Madrid had the chance to level the scores on the night and take a 2-1 lead in the tie, but Vinicius could not find the target.
Antonio Rudiger goal vs. Atletico Madrid (deciding penalty)
Rudiger proves to be the matchwinner for Real Madrid, as the centre-back's penalty finds the back of the net despite the best efforts of Jan Oblak; Los Blancos are though to the quarter-finals of the competition.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JOSE GIMENEZ
Gimenez did not deserve to be on the losing side on Wednesday considering his performance, as the experienced centre-back was simply exceptional against Real Madrid's star-studded attack.
The 30-year-old was excellent in possession of the ball, finishing with a pass success rate of 89%, but it was his defensive work that impressed the most, making four tackles, with Mbappe finding it incredibly difficult against him.
ATLETICO VS. REAL MADRID MATCH STATS
Possession: Atletico 38%-62% Real Madrid
Shots: Atletico 17-10 Real Madrid
Shots on target: Atletico 7-3 Real Madrid
Corners: Atletico 10-10 Real Madrid
Fouls: Atletico 11-16 Real Madrid
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
Both of these sides will now switch their attention back to La Liga, with second-placed Real Madrid away to Villarreal on Saturday evening, while third-placed Atletico have the small matter of a home fixture against division leaders Barcelona on Sunday night.
Real Madrid, as mentioned, are marching on to the quarter-finals of the competition, with Ancelotti's side set to tackle Premier League giants Arsenal in what is shaping up to be a fascinating two-legged affair.
body check tags ::
