In a thrilling Madrid Derby, Real Madrid secured their place in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over rivals Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. The match, which ended 1-0 in favor of Atlético after extra time, resulted in a 2-2 aggregate scoreline, forcing the tie to be decided by penalties. Real Madrid’s resilience shone through, with Antonio Rüdiger’s decisive, albeit slow-paced, penalty sending the reigning champions into the next round.
The second leg began with an explosive start for Atlético Madrid, as Conor Gallagher stunned Real Madrid by scoring just 27 seconds into the match, leveling the aggregate score at 2-2. The early goal ignited the home crowd and set the tone for a fiercely contested battle. Atlético, trailing 2-1 from the first leg, pressed relentlessly, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak making several key saves to keep his team in contention. Despite their dominance, Atlético struggled to convert their chances into a second goal, with substitute Ángel Correa nearly sealing the tie in the 89th minute, only to blaze his venomous shot just over the crossbar.
Real Madrid, bolstered by the return of Jude Bellingham and the inclusion of Kylian Mbappé in the starting lineup despite fitness concerns, weathered the storm. The match remained deadlocked at 1-0 through regulation time, forcing extra time. Both sides traded blows, but neither could find a breakthrough, leading to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
In the shootout, Real Madrid held their nerve, converting four of their attempts, while Atlético faltered. Antonio Rüdiger’s slow, deliberate strike proved to be the difference, sneaking past Oblak and sparking wild celebrations among the Real Madrid faithful. The victory marked yet another chapter in Real Madrid’s storied dominance over their city rivals in European competition, having now prevailed in all six of their previous Champions League knockout encounters.
Atlético Madrid’s heartbreak in the competition continues, as Diego Simeone’s side once again fell short against their bitter rivals. Despite their valiant effort and a strong performance at home, where they have lost only once across all competitions this season, Atlético could not overcome Real Madrid’s clinical edge in the shootout. Simeone made tactical adjustments, notably starting captain José María Giménez over regular defender Robin Le Normand, but it was not enough to turn the tide.
For Real Madrid, the win extends their unbeaten run to 10 games across all competitions and reinforces their status as one of Europe’s elite teams. Luka Modrić, who came off the bench in the first leg, and Rodrygo, who scored in the opener, continued to play pivotal roles, while Mbappé’s presence added an extra dimension to their attack. The victory sets up a potential quarterfinal clash with Arsenal, who advanced with an 8-1 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven.