In the classic build-up between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid in the Round of 16 of the greatest competition in Europe, drama, tension, and poor decisions were all in abundance. Los Blancos made it through to the next round on penalties as the aggregate score remained 2-2, with redemption and misery marching together.
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Atlético begins strongly, Madrid struggle to find their feet
It's never an easy day at the Metropolitano for Real Madrid, and recent history bears this out, a mere one win in their last eight at the Metropolitano in regulation. Atlético entered up for it, flying full steam ahead. It hadn't even taken 30 seconds of play before Gallagher opened the scoring. Real Madrid suffered a heavy setback here, having no very good match.
Madrid struggled to break through Atlético's defense in the opening half. Their best chance came in the form of a possible penalty on Vini Jr., but the referee waved it off. Julián Álvarez attempted Courtois twice, making vital stops to keep Madrid alive.
Vinicius Jr.'s penalty miss and a game that refused to open up
The second half was an exact replica of the first. Atlético kept back and safe, Madrid kept going forward but were unable to beat them. The golden opportunity arose in the 69th minute when Mbappé danced around Atlético's defense and was fouled within the box. The penalty seemed like the one that would change the course of the match, but it turned out to be frustration. Vinicius Jr. took it and shot over.
Real Madrid pressed hard in the dying minutes, but without the inventive touch required to breach a side built to dig in. Extra time witnessed more of the same, possession ceded by Madrid, but Atlético's defense remaining resolute. Brahim tried from distance, but Oblak denied. The clock ticked down and the match went to penalties.
Cold-blooded in penalties, Atlético's curse persists
If there is one thing Real Madrid does well, it is performing at the most important moments. During the shootout, Mbappé, Bellingham, Valverde, and Rüdiger, just like in the previous year against Manchester City, converted their penalties. Atlético, on their part, missed twice. In the season, the Merengues booked their ticket.
Interestingly, Atlético has a gargantuan trauma in the world of penalty shootouts against Real Madrid in European competition. It happened in 2016, in the Champions League final. It happened again today. If penalty kicks are all about precision, coolness, and confidence, then it seems that whenever Atlético faces its arch-rival, their legs turn heavy.
Ancelotti and the logic of 'not overcomplicating'
Carlo Ancelotti, expert of the knockout phases, dissected the game with his usual pragmatic brain. He knew very well that if they had given up a second goal, it would have been extremely difficult, and so the huge message he conveyed to the players was to dominate. Madrid wasn't brilliant, far from it, but they knew what they had to do.
"It was a tough game, even tougher with the goal that we conceded in the first minute. Then they defended solidly and tried to get us out of position on the counterattack. The plan was to have good possession and not make things even harder for ourselves," the coach explained.
And the penalty shootout? Ancelotti called it a toss of the coin. "I do not know what makes the difference in a shootout. You have to choose the coldest players you can. It's a lottery, heads or tails, and this time it happened our way," said the coach. In the end, the coin landed Madrid's way.