Real Madrid Edge Atletico as UCL Quarter-Finals Take Shape
Real Madrid overcame Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. They along with Borussia Dortmund and a couple of English teams made it to the last eight on the final matchday of the Round of 16. This round saw some of the most exciting ties. PSG eliminated Liverpool and Bayern knocked out the German champions.
Madrid derby ends in Ancelotti’s favor
Atletico Madrid hosted Real Madrid in the second leg of their RO 16 tie. The Los Blancos led 2-1 in the first leg. However, their lead was cut short in the first minute of the game. Conor Gallagher scored the opening goal inside the first 30 seconds of the match. Real Madrid dominated the possession but Atletico Madrid had more shots on target. Thibaut Courtois made six saves in the first 90 minutes to deny the home team.
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The match could have ended inside the first 90 minutes. Kylian Mbappe was brought down inside the penalty box. Vinicius Junior took the spot kick but misfired in the 70th minute. The match headed into extra time and then into a penalty shootout.
Real Madrid Survive Penalty Drama to Seal Quarter-Final Spot
Kylian Mbappe scored the first spot kick. Alexander Sorloth levelled the score. Bellingham stepped to score the second penalty for Real Madrid. Julian Alvarez took the second spot-kick. His shot was deflected of the other foot. VAR intervened and denied the goal. Real Madrid led 2-1 after two penalties each. Federico Valverde and Angel Correa scored the third penalty for their respective sides. Jan Oblak brought Atletico back into the game after he saved Lucas Vazquez’s penalty.
However, luck was on Real Madrid’s side. Marcos Llorente missed the next penalty and the score was 3-2 with just one penalty remaining. Antonio Rudiger scored his spot kick to take Real Madrid into the last eight. They will now face Arsenal in the quarter-final.
Arsenal and Aston Villa continue English challenge
Arsenal already had a six-goal lead against PSV. Mikel Arteta opted to give a chance to all his players at home. Oleksandr Zinchenko gave his side the lead in the sixth minute. Former Spurs player, Ivan Perisic brought PSV back into the game. Declan Rice extended the lead but Arsenal conceded a second-half goal. The match ended 2-2 and the tie ended 9-3 in favor of the Gunners.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa also eased past Club Brugge to reach the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League. Villa already led the tie 3-1 and was handed another boost when Kyriani Sabbe was sent off in the 16th minute. Marco Asensio scored a brace and Ian Maatsen added another to win the match 3-0. Villa will now take on PSG in the last eight.
Dortmund passes Lille’s test
Borussia Dortmund overcame French side Lille to reach the last eight of the competition. The German side won the second leg 2-1 and the tie ended 3-2 in favor of the German side. Jonathan David gave Lille an early lead but two goals in the second half ended the tie in Dortmund’s favour. They will now face Barcelona in the next round.
