Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was left furious after his team’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid, following a controversial penalty decision that ruled out Julian Alvarez’s spot-kick during the decisive shootout.
Real Madrid triumphed 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 aggregate draw in the last-16 tie. However, the match was overshadowed by a contentious call from VAR, which ruled that Alvarez had made a double contact with the ball while taking his penalty.
Simeone Questions VAR Decision
Simeone, visibly frustrated after the match, questioned the validity of the ruling and suggested that the ball did not move when Alvarez took his shot.
“The referee said when Julian got to the penalty spot, he touched the ball with his standing foot, but the ball did not move,” Simeone told reporters.
Álvarez’s penalty is overturned by VAR after a double touch
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He acknowledged that there was no way to overturn the decision but remained proud of his players for the way they fought against their city rivals.
“Beyond that, which now just serves to argue about whether it should have counted or not, I am proud of my players, I am happy, truly,” he continued.
Atletico’s Brave Fight Ends in Heartbreak
Atletico Madrid put in a valiant effort over the two legs and once again made life difficult for Real Madrid. Despite the loss, Simeone took solace in the fact that his team had pushed their rivals to the limit.
“We competed in an exemplary way,” Simeone said. “And yes, we could not beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, sure, we could not, but they had a really bad time against us again.”
This loss means Atletico Madrid have once again fallen short against their bitter rivals in the Champions League. The club has historically struggled to overcome Real Madrid in Europe, with painful exits in the 2014 and 2016 finals as well as the 2017 semi-finals.
Was Alvarez’s Penalty a Fair Call?
While Simeone remained skeptical about the decision, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believed the right call was made.
“In the end, it’s a lottery,” Courtois told Movistar. “I felt a little that he had touched it twice, that’s what I told the referee. It is clearly not easy to see, but it’s a bit of bad luck for them there.”
VAR determined that Alvarez slipped while striking the ball, causing him to make an accidental second touch with his standing foot. According to the rules, such an action invalidates the penalty, giving Real Madrid a crucial advantage in the shootout.
Ancelotti Supports the Referee’s Call
Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti backed the referee’s decision and insisted that VAR had detected the double contact correctly.
“They detected it,” Ancelotti said. “When we realized there was this doubt, they had already detected it on VAR. I saw it, I think he touches it with his left foot, a second touch.”
The decision to overturn the goal ultimately proved to be a turning point in the match, as Real Madrid capitalized on Atletico’s misfortune to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Simeone’s Frustration Grows
Simeone did not hold back in expressing his disbelief over the call and even challenged journalists in the post-match press conference to prove that Alvarez had indeed touched the ball twice.
“The coach asked members of the media to raise their hand if they had seen a replay in which it was clear Alvarez had touched the ball twice,” one journalist reported.
“Raise your hand, anyone who saw Julian touch it twice, who is going to raise their hand? Nobody has raised their hand,” shouted Simeone.
His reaction highlighted the level of frustration within the Atletico Madrid camp, as they felt a crucial decision had gone against them at the worst possible moment.
Atletico’s Champions League Curse Against Real Madrid Continues
This latest defeat adds to Atletico’s long-standing misery against Real Madrid in Europe. The two clubs have met multiple times in the Champions League over the past decade, with Real always emerging victorious in knockout ties.
Atletico had come close to eliminating their city rivals in previous seasons but have often been undone by late goals, controversial decisions, or dramatic penalty shootouts.
With their Champions League journey now over, Simeone and his squad must turn their attention to domestic competitions, where they are still in the fight for a strong La Liga finish.
Real Madrid March On
While Atletico Madrid are left to wonder what could have been, Real Madrid march on to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will continue their quest for European glory.
Ancelotti’s side has shown time and again that they can handle pressure in high-stakes situations, and their ability to hold their nerve in penalty shootouts further solidifies their reputation as one of the most dominant clubs in European football.
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