Real Madrid Edge Atletico in Dramatic Shootout to Reach Champions League Quarter-Finals
Real Madrid secured a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after a nail-biting penalty shootout victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid.
The match saw high drama as Julian Alvarez’s penalty was controversially ruled out during the shootout, allowing Los Blancos to continue their quest for a record-extending 16th Champions League title.
The game began with a lightning-fast goal from Conor Gallagher just 27 seconds in, leveling the aggregate score after Real’s 2-1 first-leg win. However, despite numerous chances, neither side could find the winning goal in 120 minutes of play, forcing a decisive penalty shootout.
Both teams converted their first three penalties before Alvarez’s effort was disallowed by VAR for an unfortunate double touch. Fede Valverde then coolly slotted his attempt to give Real Madrid a 3-1 lead. While Atletico’s Jan Oblak denied Lucas Vázquez, Marcos Llorente struck the crossbar, sealing Atletico’s elimination.
Antonio Rüdiger confidently dispatched the final penalty, confirming Real Madrid’s quarter-final clash with Arsenal.
Arsenal Cruise Past PSV to Set Up Real Madrid Showdown
Arsenal stormed into the quarter-finals with a dominant 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven. After a commanding 7-1 win in the first leg, the Gunners took a more relaxed approach at the Emirates Stadium, leading to a balanced contest.
Oleksandr Zinchenko opened the scoring with a stunning strike, but PSV fought back, equalizing through Ivan Perisic. Arsenal regained the lead via Declan Rice’s precise header, only for Couhaib Driouech to level the score again, ensuring a 2-2 draw on the night.
Despite the subdued performance, Mikel Arteta can take pride in guiding Arsenal to the Champions League last eight for the second consecutive season—a feat last achieved by the club in 2010.
Aston Villa Ease Past Club Brugge to Set Up PSG Clash
Aston Villa comfortably booked their place in the quarter-finals with a commanding victory over Club Brugge at Villa Park. Holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg, Villa capitalized on Club Brugge’s misfortunes, including a red card for Kyriani Sabbe, to assert their dominance.
Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, made an instant impact after coming off the bench, scoring just moments after his introduction. Ian Maatsen added another before Asensio netted his second, sealing a resounding victory and setting up a quarter-final showdown against his parent club, PSG.
Dortmund Fight Back to Overcome Lille
Borussia Dortmund staged a spirited comeback against Lille to secure their spot in the last eight. The French side took an early lead through Jonathan David’s fifth-minute strike, but Dortmund responded with resilience, turning the match around to claim victory and advance further in the competition.
2024-25 UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final Fixtures
- Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich
- PSG vs Aston Villa
- Arsenal vs Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona
Real Madrid’s dramatic triumph over Atletico, Arsenal’s emphatic passage, and Aston Villa’s dominant display set the stage for an electrifying quarter-final lineup. The road to Wembley is heating up!
