In a thrilling night of Champions League football, Real Madrid win dramatic shootout to reach Champions League quarters; Arsenal, Aston Villa and Dortmund also qualify.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw on aggregate before Real claimed a 4-2 victory on penalties, maintaining their dominance over their city rivals in European competitions.
Alvarez’s Controversial Penalty Disallowed
The defining moment of the shootout came when Julian Alvarez’s converted penalty was ruled out by VAR. A review revealed that Alvarez had inadvertently touched the ball twice due to a slip, leading to the disqualification of his spot-kick. Despite a miss from Lucas Vazquez, Real prevailed as Marcos Llorente hit the bar for Atletico, and Antonio Rudiger’s effort secured the win.
“We were exhausted by the end, but we fought till the last minute, and thankfully we won,” said Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde.
For Atletico, it was another painful European defeat at the hands of their rivals. “It hurts, we played a great match, but luck wasn’t on our side,” said goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Arsenal Cruise Past PSV
On Wednesday Arsenal also progressed comfortably to the quarter-finals, drawing 2-2 with PSV Eindhoven after their emphatic 7-1 first-leg victory. Goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice sealed their aggregate 9-3 triumph, setting up a tantalizing quarter-final clash with Real Madrid.
Asensio Shines as Villa Dominate
Aston Villa joined Arsenal in the last eight after a commanding 3-0 win over Club Brugge, completing a 6-1 aggregate victory. Marco Asensio was the star of the night, scoring twice in the second half after coming on as a substitute. Villa will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals, a match that will see Asensio play against his parent club.
“It’s an incredible feeling to reach the quarter-finals. PSG will be a huge test, but we’re ready for it,” said Villa captain John McGinn.
Dortmund Edge Past Lille
Borussia Dortmund also booked their place in the next round, coming from behind to beat Lille 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. Jonathan David gave Lille an early lead, but Emre Can’s penalty and a stunning goal from Maximilian Beier ensured Dortmund’s progression. They now prepare to face Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
As the Champions League quarter-finals take shape, fans can look forward to some blockbuster clashes, with European giants set to battle for a spot in the semi-finals.
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