Since joining Real Madrid, Antonio Rüdiger has had his fair share of memorable moments, but none as dramatic as tonight’s against Atlético de Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The German defender stepped up to take the decisive penalty that secured the win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

With the pressure at its peak, Rüdiger took the fifth penalty right after Marcos Llorente’s costly miss, taking full responsibility. He fired a powerful shot straight down the middle, beating Jan Oblak, who got a touch but couldn’t keep it out. The German then sprinted across the pitch in pure euphoria, celebrating wildly as his teammates chased him, igniting a Madridista frenzy at their rival’s stadium.

A High-Tension Clash

Atlético de Madrid wasted no time, leveling the tie in just 27 seconds thanks to a goal from Conor Gallagher. The Rojiblancos created several chances to complete the comeback, but Thibaut Courtois came up big with crucial saves.

In the second half, Real Madrid had a golden opportunity when they won a penalty, but Vinícius Júnior failed to convert. As the match wore on, both teams showed signs of fatigue, leading to extra time and, ultimately, a penalty shootout to decide the winner.

Penalty Shootout Drama and a Ticket to the Quarterfinals

In the shootout, Kylian Mbappé, Alexander Sørloth, and Jude Bellingham all converted, while Julián Álvarez slipped, causing his goal to be ruled out. Federico Valverde extended Madrid’s lead, Ángel Correa kept Atlético alive, and Oblak denied Lucas Vázquez to keep the tension high. 

However, Marcos Llorente’s shot struck the post, leaving the fate of the match in Rüdiger’s hands—he didn’t miss, sealing Real Madrid’s place in the next round. Once again, Real Madrid survived a nail-biting battle and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face Arsenal in the next round.