The Brazilian failed to convert from 12 yards during regular time, but Carlo Ancelotti’s team triumphed in a penalty shootout to set up a showdown with Arsenal.

Antonio Rudiger sealed the winning penalty in a frantic shootout, propelling Real Madrid into the Champions League quarter-finals after Atletico Madrid equalized the last-16 tie with a 1-0 victory in the second leg on Wednesday.

Atletico scored quickly, but the game soon turned into a tense stalemate, with penalties proving to be the decisive factor. Both teams missed opportunities from the spot, yet Rudiger’s successful kick sent Madrid through.

Atletico required only 27 seconds to draw level, taking advantage of a sluggish start from Madrid and working the ball down the right side, culminating in a tap-in by Conor Gallagher. In contrast, Los Blancos struggled to create chances in the first half, with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo effectively contained by Atletico, while Kylian Mbappe often found himself trapped in congestion.

Meanwhile, the home team looked threatening each time they countered, bursting with energy and purpose. Julian Alvarez found himself in several dangerous positions but was repeatedly thwarted by Thibaut Courtois. Despite their determination, the score at halftime reflected a sense of inevitability.

Real appeared to be a renewed side in the second half and seemed to have a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when Mbappe was fouled in the box by Clement Lenglet. Unfortunately, Vinicius squandered the subsequent penalty. Following that, there were a number of half-chances until extra time, which also failed to yield clear opportunities.

Ultimately, penalties were required to decide the match, and Atletico faltered first as Alvarez slipped while taking his shot, resulting in a double touch. Despite having a chance to equalize after Lucas Vazquez’s penalty was saved, Marcos Llorente blasted his attempt off the crossbar.

Real Madrid, of course, took advantage, as Rudiger’s penalty squeezed in off Jan Oblak’s palm, sending them—surprisingly yet predictably—into yet another Champions League quarter-final.

GOAL rates Real Madrid’s players from the Metropolitano…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (7/10): Could do little about the opening goal and made several key saves. Didn’t officially save in the shootout but did his duty.

Federico Valverde (6/10): Provided a solid performance at right-back and was active in midfield.

Raul Asencio (6/10): Struggled to cover effectively for the Atleti goal but made a crucial tackle in the second half.

Antonio Rudiger (8/10): Initially partly responsible for Madrid’s struggles, he recovered well and ultimately became the hero by scoring the decisive penalty.

Ferland Mendy (4/10): Exploited too easily down his flank as Madrid conceded the opening goal. Played poorly on the ball and committed errors, and ended his night with a suspected hamstring injury.

Midfield

Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10): Lacked awareness on the Atleti opener. Passed efficiently, though he didn’t provide much quality. Showed improvement in the second half before being substituted.

Jude Bellingham (7/10): Was ineffective early, rarely involved in the first half. Contributed more in the second half and scored his penalty.

Luka Modric (6/10): Didn’t have his best outing with the ball but thrived in the midfield battle. Played 65 minutes.

Attack

Rodrygo (6/10): Inactive in the first half but became more involved in the second. Unfortunate to be substituted.

Kylian Mbappe (7/10): Won the penalty missed by Vinicius. Had little involvement in the first half, but became more active as the match progressed and scored in the shootout.

Vinicius Jr (4/10): Overwhelmed every time he got possession, missed a penalty in the second half, and made several poor decisions subsequently. His performance was among his worst recently.

Subs & Manager

Lucas Vazquez (6/10): Put in a strong performance after coming on, with Atleti not posing much threat down his side, although his penalty was quite poor.

Eduardo Camavinga (7/10): Offered scrappy play in midfield, helping Madrid regain some control.

Brahim Diaz (6/10): Effective in tight areas and used his body well, though he lacked the decisive pass.

Fran Garcia (6/10): Provided a notable improvement over the disappointing Mendy and added offensive impetus.

Endrick (N/A): Came on late to provide fresh legs for a fatigued Vinicius.

**Car