Julian Alvarez had his penalty in the shoot-out controversially disallowed as Real Madrid beat rivals Atletico to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night, while Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Borussia Dortmund also advanced.
Failures from the spot defined the second leg of the Madrid derby last-16 tie including a remarkable decision to rule out Alvarez’s kick for Atletico as Real won 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.
Conor Gallagher’s strike 27 seconds into the game at the Metropolitano stadium had levelled the scores on aggregate.
Gallagher’s close-range finish cancelled out Real’s 2-1 lead from the first leg last week, but the reigning champions could have progressed inside 90 minutes.
They won a spot-kick midway through the second half when Kylian Mbappe was hauled down by Clement Lenglet after accelerating into the box.
However, Vinicius Junior blazed his kick high over the bar, and the game went to extra time and then penalties with no further scoring.
The shoot-out hinged on Alvarez’s second penalty for Atletico, which he converted. However, a VAR check indicated that he had touched the ball with his standing foot as he slipped before striking to score.
The penalty was disallowed and while Lucas Vazquez later missed for Real, Marcos Llorente hit the bar for Atletico, and it was Antonio Rudiger’s effort which squirmed in that proved to be the winner.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will face Arsenal in the last eight in what will be the first meeting of the clubs since 2006.
PSG knock Liverpool out of Champions League as Bayern thrash Leverkusen
Arsenal progress to a second straight quarter-final was never in doubt going into the second leg against PSV Eindhoven, after a 7-1 win in the Netherlands last week.
The clubs drew 2-2 in the return at the Emirates Stadium, allowing Arsenal to advance 9-3 on aggregate.
There are two Premier League clubs into the last eight, with Aston Villa beating Club Brugge 3-0 in Birmingham to secure a 6-1 aggregate triumph.
The 1982 European Cup winners face a quarter-final against PSG, which will mean Villa coach Unai Emery facing his former side.
Last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund also fought back to beat Lille 2-1 in France and win 3-2 on aggregate.
Dortmund will face Barcelona in the quarter-finals next month, having lost 3-2 at home to the Catalans during the league phase in December.
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