March 13, 2025
Today, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid in a thrilling Champions League match. It happened at the Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain. The game was the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie. It ended in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Real Madrid won 4-3 on penalties. This victory means Real Madrid moves to the quarter-finals. Atlético Madrid is out of the tournament. Fans saw an exciting night full of tension and drama. Here’s everything that happened in this big match.
The Build-Up to the Game
This was a huge game for both teams. Real Madrid came into the match with a small lead. They won the first leg 2-1 at their home, the Santiago Bernabeu, on March 4, 2025. Brahim Diaz scored the winning goal in that game. Atlético Madrid needed to fight back at home. They have a strong record at the Metropolitano. They haven’t lost a Champions League knockout game there since March 1997. Experts said Atlético had a 38.5% chance to win, while Real Madrid had 35.2%. It was going to be a close battle.
Both teams are rivals from the same city. They have played each other many times. Real Madrid has won all five of their past Champions League knockout ties against Atlético. This history made Atlético fans nervous. But they hoped their team could break the streak. The stadium was full of energy. Fans cheered loudly before the game started.
The Starting Lineups
Atlético Madrid’s coach, Diego Simeone, picked a strong team. Jan Oblak was in goal. The defenders were Marcos Llorente, José Giménez, Clément Lenglet, and Reinildo Mandava. In midfield, he chose Giovanni Simeone, Rodrigo De Paul, Pablo Barrios, and Conor Gallagher. Up front, Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez led the attack.
Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, also named a solid lineup. Thibaut Courtois was the goalkeeper. The defense had Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rüdiger, and young player Asencio. Midfielders were Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Luka Modrić. The forwards were Vinícius Jr., Kylian Mbappé, and Rodrygo Goes. Both teams looked ready for a tough fight.
First Half: Goals and Excitement
The match started at 4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT). Atlético Madrid kicked off with energy. They wanted to score early. In the 12th minute, they got their chance. Julián Álvarez ran past Rüdiger. He hit a beautiful shot from outside the box. Courtois couldn’t stop it. The ball flew into the top corner. The crowd went wild. Atlético led 1-0. The aggregate score was now 2-2. Atlético was back in the game.
Real Madrid didn’t wait long to reply. In the 25th minute, Rodrygo Goes scored a stunning goal. Vinícius Jr. passed the ball to him. Rodrygo dribbled past Lenglet and shot low into the net. Oblak had no chance. The score was 1-1. On aggregate, Real Madrid led 3-2. The first half was fast and exciting. Both teams played hard. They created chances but couldn’t score again before the break.
Second Half: Tension Rises
After halftime, the game got even more intense. Atlético pushed forward. They needed another goal to tie the aggregate score. Griezmann came close in the 55th minute. He took a shot from inside the box. Courtois made a great save. The ball stayed out. Atlético fans held their breath.
Real Madrid also had chances. Mbappé ran fast down the left side in the 65th minute. He crossed the ball to Bellingham. The midfielder’s shot hit the post. It was so close. The game stayed 1-1. Both defenses worked hard. Tackles were tough. Players fought for every ball. The clock kept ticking. Extra time looked likely.
In the 80th minute, Atlético got a corner. Giménez jumped high and headed the ball. It went just over the bar. The crowd groaned. Real Madrid’s defense held strong. Mendy and Rüdiger blocked many attacks. The referee added five minutes of stoppage time. Atlético tried everything. They passed quickly and pushed players forward. But Real Madrid stayed calm. The whistle blew. The score was still 1-1. It was time for extra time.
Extra Time: No Goals, More Drama
Extra time started at a slower pace. Players looked tired. Both teams had played hard for 90 minutes. Atlético kept attacking. In the 98th minute, Gallagher shot from distance. Courtois caught it easily. Real Madrid tried to counterattack. Vinícius Jr. ran with the ball in the 105th minute. Lenglet tackled him just in time.
The second half of extra time was the same. No one scored. Atlético’s fans cheered louder. They wanted a goal. Real Madrid’s players stayed focused. Modrić controlled the midfield. He passed the ball well. Mbappé had a chance in the 118th minute. Oblak saved his shot. The game ended 1-1 after 120 minutes. The aggregate score was 3-2 to Real Madrid. But the rules said it would go to penalties. The tension was huge.
Penalty Shootout: Real Madrid Wins
The penalty shootout was the big moment. Atlético went first. Griezmann stepped up. He scored. The crowd cheered. Real Madrid’s Bellingham took their first shot. He scored too. It was 1-1. Next, De Paul scored for Atlético. Vinícius Jr. answered for Real Madrid. The score was 2-2.
Then came the drama. Atlético’s Gallagher took the third penalty. He hit it low. Courtois dived and saved it. Real Madrid fans shouted with joy. Mbappé scored Real’s third penalty. It was 3-2 to Real Madrid. Álvarez scored for Atlético. The score was 3-3. Modrić took Real’s fourth shot. He scored calmly. It was 4-3.
The final penalty was huge. Atlético’s Llorente stepped up. He shot hard. Courtois saved it again. But wait—VAR checked the play. Courtois had moved off his line too early. The referee said Llorente could try again. He shot once more. This time, he missed. The ball went wide. Real Madrid won 4-3 on penalties. Their players celebrated. Atlético’s players fell to the ground. They were heartbroken.
What It Means
Real Madrid is through to the Champions League quarter-finals. They keep their perfect record against Atlético in knockout ties. It’s now six wins out of six. Ancelotti praised his team. He said they showed strength and focus. Courtois was the hero with two big saves. Fans called him the best goalkeeper in the world.
For Atlético, it’s another sad night. They played well but couldn’t win. Simeone said his team gave everything. He was proud but upset. Their fans clapped for them anyway. They know how hard the team tried. Atlético’s long wait to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League goes on.
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