A tense penalty shootout was needed to decide the Madrid derby in Champions League, with Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti leading his side past Atletico Madrid despite a 1-0 defeat in the second leg.
The reigning European champions had initially carried a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, only to see it wiped out in just 27 seconds when Conor Gallagher struck for Atletico, Footballrover reports.
The game stretched into extra time after Vinicius Junior missed a crucial second-half penalty, blazing his shot over the bar despite winning it himself.
The drama continued in the shootout as Julian Alvarez thought he had equalised for Atletico at 2-2, only for VAR to rule out his goal due to a double touch.
That moment shifted momentum, but Madrid still faced obstacles as Jan Oblak denied Lucas Vazquez.
However, Marcos Llorente failed to punish Madrid’s mistake, striking the crossbar before Antonio Rüdiger sealed the victory.
Ancelotti’s unexpected change in Penalty plans
After the match, Real Madrid coach Ancelotti revealed an interesting twist regarding his penalty decision.
He initially planned for young Brazilian forward Endrick to take the decisive spot-kick. However, as the moment arrived, something made him reconsider.
“On the final penalty, we had a doubt—who should take it, Rüdiger or Endrick?” Ancelotti admitted. “We wanted Endrick… But then I saw his face, and I decided Rüdiger was the better option (laughs),” Ancelotti reveals.
His last-minute call proved effective, as Rüdiger’s strike edged past Oblak, sending Madrid into the quarter-finals to face Arsenal.
Experience over youth—Did Ancelotti make the right call?
Ancelotti’s lighthearted comment may have seemed like a playful jab at Endrick, but it shows a fundamental truth—high-pressure moments often call for experienced players.
Rüdiger, a seasoned defender, handled the pressure, while Endrick, still a teenager, might have felt the weight of the moment.
With Real Madrid’s Champions League run still alive, Ancelotti’s instinctive penalty decision ensured they survived another thrilling European night.
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