Double-kick penalty by Álvarez results in one other heartbreaking loss for Atletico in opposition to Actual Madrid

Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente and Julian Alvarez in motion with Actual Madrid’s Jude Bellingham
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

A slip, a double contact, a missed penalty. Similar to that, Atletico Madrid endured one more heartbreaking loss to rival Actual Madrid within the Champions League.

Julián Álvarez slipped and double-touched the ball whereas taking his penalty kick within the shootout in opposition to Madrid on Wednesday (March 12, 2025), ensuing within the purpose being erased after video assessment confirmed the infraction.

It could have tied the shootout 2-2. However Actual Madrid finally moved forward 3-1 and gained by a ultimate rating of 4-2 to advance to the quarterfinals and preserve alive its hopes of successful the Champions League once more.

“I felt that he touched the ball twice, and I advised the referee,” Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois mentioned. “It isn’t straightforward to see that. It was a little bit of dangerous luck for them there.”

The referee didn’t initially see the double contact however Madrid gamers have been calling it to his consideration.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned he did not discover the double kick within the means of the penalty being taken, however within the replays “it appeared that there was a second contact together with his left foot.”

Atletico coach Diego Simeone mentioned he didn’t see a double contact by the Argentina worldwide however wished “to imagine that if the VAR intervened it’s as a result of it noticed one thing.”

It was arduous to inform from the pictures whether or not Álvarez’s standing left foot, which was the one which slipped, precipitated the primary or the second contact on the ball.

In response to the foundations, after a primary contact the penalty kicker “should not play the ball once more till it has touched one other participant.” It the infraction occurs throughout the match, than an oblique free kick is awarded to the opposing staff. In a shootout, the purpose would not rely.

Conor Gallagher scored lower than 30 seconds into the match to provide Atletico a 1-0 win after regulation and further time to go away the rating 2-2 on mixture. Madrid gained the primary leg 2-1 on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium final week.

For Atletico, which has by no means gained the highest European membership competitors, it meant one other excruciating setback in opposition to Madrid — the fifth consecutive to town rival.

Atletico misplaced two Champions League finals to Madrid — in 2014 and 2016 — and was eradicated the opposite two occasions they confronted off within the knockout rounds — within the 2015 quarterfinals and 2017 semifinals.

“It hurts,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak mentioned. “We performed an awesome match however sadly we have been a bit unfortunate. It is a disgrace. It hurts loads.”

Simeone did not need to blame the elimination on dangerous luck.

“I wouldn’t discuss luck. I might discuss feeling happy with the staff that we’ve got and about how we all the time compete,” Simeone mentioned. “Madrid has all the time overwhelmed us within the Champions League, however they’ve all the time suffered. I am positive they’re going to all the time keep in mind that.”