Real Madrid demonstrated their Champions League pedigree once again, overcoming local rivals Atlético Madrid in a dramatic penalty shootout that ended 4-2 after a tense 120 minutes of action.
The victory sets up an intriguing quarter-final clash with Premier League side Arsenal. The match featured early drama, missed opportunities, and ultimately a controversial VAR decision that will be debated long after the final whistle.
Atlético's impressive 18-match unbeaten home run in UCL knockout matches came to a heartbreaking end, continuing their unfortunate history against their city rivals in Europe's premier competition.
Diego Simeone's men gave everything in front of a passionate Metropolitano crowd but fell short in the most painful fashion possible - a penalty shootout that included a disallowed Julián Álvarez spot-kick that proved decisive.
Atlético Madrid could not have dreamed of a better beginning to the crucial second leg. With the Metropolitano crowd barely settled in their seats, the home side struck after just 27 seconds to level the aggregate score at 2-2.
The move began with Julián Álvarez playing the ball to Pablo Barrios and then Rodrigo De Paul before it found its way to Clément Lenglet under pressure.
The defender launched it long, causing panic in the Real defense as Raúl Asencio's clearance went straight to Antoine Griezmann, who quickly fed Conor Gallagher. The Englishman moved it to Álvarez, who spotted De Paul advancing on the right wing. De Paul's cross was cleverly dummied by Giuliano Simeone - son of manager Diego - before Gallagher arrived at the near post to slide home what became the fastest goal ever scored by an Englishman in Champions League history.
The goal electrified the stadium and set the tone for Atlético's approach. Simeone's tactical plan worked perfectly in the first half as his team sat compact and launched dangerous counter-attacks. Álvarez proved particularly troublesome for Real's defense, forcing Thibaut Courtois into two impressive saves before the interval.
Carlo Ancelotti's European champions looked surprisingly sluggish, struggling to match the intensity of their determined hosts. The pattern continued as Atlético entered halftime with their crucial lead intact and momentum on their side.
The second half followed a similar pattern with Real Madrid unable to impose their usual control on proceedings.
Julián Álvarez continued to torment the visitors' defense, escaping several markers before having another shot pushed away by an increasingly busy Courtois.
With Real having mustered just one shot on target approaching the hour mark, Atlético sensed an opportunity to take an outright aggregate lead.
Rodrigo De Paul nearly provided it when his free-kick found Clément Lenglet, but the defender's header flew narrowly wide.
Just as frustration appeared to be setting in for Real Madrid, a moment of individual brilliance from Kylian Mbappé changed the complexion of the match. The French superstar slalomed through the Atlético defense with remarkable acceleration and was pulled back by Lenglet inside the penalty area.
The referee pointed to the spot, giving Real a golden opportunity to regain control of the tie. Vinícius Júnior assumed responsibility, but to the disbelief of Carlo Ancelotti and the traveling supporters, the Brazilian blazed his penalty high over the crossbar. The miss energized both the Atlético players and their passionate supporters, with Diego Simeone visibly rallying the Metropolitano crowd to increase the noise level even further.
With neither team able to find a breakthrough in the closing stages of normal time, the Madrid derby entered the familiar territory of extra time - a frequent occurrence when these two capital rivals meet in knockout competitions. Real Madrid began to assert more control during the additional 30 minutes, with Atlético appearing to tire slightly after their intense pressing efforts. Nevertheless, substitute Alexander Sørloth had a golden opportunity to win it for the hosts, but scuffed his close-range attempt wide from deep inside the box.
As extra time concluded without further scoring, penalties would determine which Madrid side would advance to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
Kylian Mbappé confidently converted the first penalty for Real, followed by successful efforts from Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde. Then came the moment of extreme controversy that would define the shootout. Julián Álvarez stepped up for Atlético's second penalty and slipped during his run-up. Although the ball went past Courtois, referee Szymon Marciniak was advised by VAR to review the kick. After consultation, it was ruled that Álvarez had made contact with the ball twice during his shooting motion - first with his left foot and then his right - making the goal invalid under penalty rules.The decision stunned the Metropolitano crowd and visibly affected the Atlético players. There was temporary hope when Jan Oblak saved Lucas Vázquez's effort, but Marcos Llorente hit the crossbar with his attempt. This left Antonio Rüdiger with the chance to win it for Real Madrid, and although Oblak got hands to his shot, the ball squirmed through the goalkeeper's grasp to send the defending champions through to the quarter-finals.
The disallowed penalty became the focal point of post-match discussions, with Diego Simeone particularly animated about the decision.
"When Julián kicks the penalty, the ball doesn't even move a bit," Simeone insisted during his press conference. "I imagine that they called the VAR and saw that he touched it. I want to believe that they'll have seen that he touched it." The Atlético manager even challenged journalists to "raise your hand" if they thought Álvarez's penalty should have been disallowed, reflecting his frustration with the ruling.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois offered a different perspective on the incident: "I felt that he touched the ball twice and I told the referee. It's not easy to see that. It was a bit of bad luck." Courtois didn't stop there, adding: "I'm sick of this victimhood, always crying about things like this. Referees don't want to benefit one team or another in Spain or in Europe, for them it was clear. With the technology, in the VAR room they saw it clearly, they have a lot of cameras and a lot of images."
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's experienced manager, took a more diplomatic approach. "It looks to me like he touches it with his left foot," Ancelotti said regarding the controversial penalty. He then added philosophically: "Penalties are a lottery, heads or tails. It came up heads today. Atlético go out with their heads high." Despite the drama and controversy, Ancelotti expressed appreciation for the quality and fighting spirit shown by both teams throughout the tie.
With their place in the quarter-finals secured, Real Madrid now turn their attention to Premier League side Arsenal. The first leg will take place on April 8, with the return match scheduled for April 16. For Atlético Madrid, this defeat represents another painful chapter in their Champions League history against their city rivals, having never eliminated Real in this competition despite coming agonizingly close once again.
This victory extends Real Madrid's remarkable record of advancing in Champions League ties when the outcome hangs in the balance. Their experience in pressure situations ultimately proved decisive, even on a night when they were second-best for significant periods. For Atlético, the early goal from Gallagher provided 27 seconds of pure hope, but 120 minutes of determined effort ended in familiar heartbreak against their greatest rivals. The controversy surrounding Álvarez's disallowed penalty will remain a talking point, but Real Madrid march on in their quest for yet another European crown.