Atletico vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League result after hugely controversial penalty shoot-out
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (2-2 on agg. Real Madrid win 4-2 on penalties): The holders will play Arsenal in the quarter-finals
Real Madrid knocked rivals Atletico Madrid out of the Champions League after a controversial penalty shoot-out that saw Julian Alvarez’s successful effort ruled out by VAR.
Alvarez scored Atletico’s second penalty of the shoot-out but slipped as he connected with the ball. Seconds passed with Atletico believing Alvarez had scored, but a VAR review found that Alvarez had touched the ball with both feet as he slipped.
Although Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez missed the next effort, Real Madrid won the shoot-out after Marcos Llorente missed and Antonio Rudiger squeezed the final effort past Jan Oblak.
Conor Gallagher’s goal inside the opening minute cancelled out Real Madrid’s 2-1 win in the Bernabeu, and the tie remained level when Vinicius Jr blazed a penalty over the bar.
Real Madrid, who continued their winning streak against Atletico in the Champions League, will play Arsenal in the quarter-finals as they continue their title defence.
Follow live updates from Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid in our live blog below
Liverpool are out of the Champions League but the worst could be yet to come
A treble evaporates for Liverpool , and a double may yet go with it. This penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain after a 1-0 loss didn’t just cost them a place in the Champions League quarter-final, but also a series of defenders for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.
Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold are now in doubt, in developments that may end up the most significant of the night beyond elimination. Arne Slot admitted he’d be “surprised” if the right-back starts.
Liverpool have to quickly pick themselves up, after a deflating elimination that currently feels like the first time they are slightly faltering under Slot.
Liverpool are out of the Champions League but the worst could be yet to come
Can Atletico finally get one over on Real Madrid on the European stage?
This is the sixth time the teams have met in the Champions League in the last 12 seasons and the record does not make pretty reading for Atletico Madrid
Real have come out on top in each meeting, first setting the tone in the 2014 final. Sergio Ramos netted a last-gasp equaliser in Lisbon, mere seconds before Atleti would have been crowned European champions - with their richer neighbours going on to win 4-1 after extra time.
Then came 2016 final in Milan, with Diego Simeone’s side losing on penalties. And the 2017 semi-final, when Real won 4-2 on aggregate.
Despite having been right alongside them domestically for the past decade, Atletico can never seem to do the job against their city rivals in Europe. Will that change tonight?
Arsenal’s route to Champions League final after Liverpool exit and PSV demolition
Arsenal have more than one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after thrashing PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in their last-16 first leg.
And they will not have to face Liverpool in the knockout stages after the Premier League leaders were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain.
MIkel Arteta’s side became the first away team to score seven goals in a Champions League knockout tie and know they are likely to head to Madrid next with their route to the final set.
Arsenal’s route to Champions League final after Liverpool exit and PSV demolition
First leg fortunes for Real
Real Madrid have progressed from 21 of their last 22 Champions League ties when they’ve won the first leg, with the exception against Ajax in the last 16 in 2018-19.
Under boss Carlo Ancelotti, they’ve progressed from nine out of nine.
A draw would obviously be enough for Real to progress and if anyone knows how to do enough, it’s Ancelotti’s side, who always come alive in this competition.
Atletico Madrid team news and line-up
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Reinildo; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann.
Subs: Musso, Azpilicueta, Molina, Witsel, Galan, Le Normand, Kostis, Lemar, Lino, Riquelme, Sorloth, Correa.
It’s a full-strength team for Atleti, with a notable return coming on the bench as Cesar Azpilicueta makes his comeback from injury.
Atletico Madrid unshakeable at home
Atleti have built something of a fortress at home though and haven’t lost at either the Vicente Calderon and Metropolitano Stadium in the Champions League since a 3-2 defeat to Ajax in March 1997 and are unbeaten in 18 since, winning 11 and drawing the other seven.
They know only a win will be enough if they are to knock out the 15-time champions.
Real Madrid team news and line-up
Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouameni, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vini Jr; Mbappe.
Subs: Lunin, Gonzalez, Alaba, Camavinga, Guler, Endrick, Vazquez, Garcia, Diaz, Gonzalo, Jacobo, Chema.
Mbappe starts, as does Luka Modric in midfield! Jude Bellingham returns from suspension.
📋✅ Our starting XI!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 12, 2025
🆚 @AtletiEnglish pic.twitter.com/E23gjZgB5d
Julian Alvarez loving his football
A lot of talk is made about about Real Madrid’s immense attacking threat, with Carlo Ancelotti’s front three of Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. sure to strike fear into any defence in European football.
However, it would be a disservice not to recognise the potency of Atleti’s front line, much of which stems from frontman Julian Alvarez.
Having been resigned to playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland at Manchester City, Alvarez has been let loose since arriving in Madrid - something that’s been evident in the Champions League, notching at least one goal in each of his last five European appearances for Atlético, with six goals and one assist.
The only two Argentinean players to score or assist in six European games in a row are Claudio López, who scored six in 1999 for Valencia, and Lionel Messi, with eight in 2011-12 and six in 2014 for Barcelona. He’ll be in good company if he manages that feat tonight.
Atletico vs Real Madrid tips
BTTS and a draw - 7/2 BetVictor
Julian Alvarez to score or assist - 31/20 Unibet
The latest chapter of a closely-fought rivalry
Atletico and Real Madrid have been on each other’s tail throughout the last decade - and that has been no more exemplified than in this season.
This will be the fourth time the two sides have met this season and it’s been hard to separate them. Both La Liga games finished 1-1 before last week’s meeting and Real have only won once at the home of their rivals since 2019.
They are only separated by one point in the league table too with Real joint top with Barcelona on 57 and Atletico sit third just a point behind them - and they have actually lost fewer games this season, just three defeats in their 27 league matches.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side might have the advantage going into tonight’s second leg, but this truly is anyone’s game.
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