The Madrid Derby is always intense, but Wednesday night at the Metropolitano was a clash filled with drama, controversy, and a bit of showmanship. When the dust settled, Real Madrid emerged victorious, sending Atletico Madrid crashing out of the UEFA Champions League on penalties.
While Vinicius endured a frustrating night on the pitch, missing a penalty and being substituted before the shootout, the Brazilian winger still found a way to have the final word.
Needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit, Atletico Madrid came out flying. The hosts got off to the perfect start, stunning Real Madrid inside the opening 30 seconds. With an early advantage secured, Diego Simeone’s side adopted a more cautious approach, allowing Real Madrid to dominate possession. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s men struggled to create clear-cut chances, as Atletico’s defensive resilience kept them at bay.
The turning point of the second half arrived in the 70th minute. Real Madrid was handed a golden opportunity to secure progression when referee Szymon Marciniak awarded them a penalty. The decision came after Clement Lenglet pulled back Kylian Mbappe inside the box just as the Frenchman was about to strike.
Stepping up to take the spot-kick was Vinicius Jr., but instead of finding the net, he sent his effort high and wide, sparking wild celebrations from the home crowd. With no further goals, the match went into extra time, where both sides failed to find a winner. A penalty shootout was inevitable.
Penalty controversy: Real Madrid prevail in shootout
The shootout brought chaos. The most controversial moment came when Julian Alvarez’s penalty was ruled out. Officials ruled that the Argentine had touched the ball twice after slipping during his run-up.
With Los Blancos already in control, Lucas Vazquez’s miss momentarily kept Atletico’s hopes alive, but Marcos Llorente followed suit, missing his own spot-kick. That set the stage for Antonio Rudiger to bury the winning penalty, sending Los Blancos into the quarter-finals.
The victory set up a clash with Arsenal in the next round, while Atletico were left to reflect on another painful European exit.
Revenge is best served late: Vinicius fires back at Atletico fans
For Vinicius, the night had been one of frustration—from missing a crucial penalty to being substituted before the shootout. Yet, despite his struggles, he made sure to have the final say.
First, after being substituted, the 24-year-old turned to the Atletico Madrid fans and pointed at the “15” badge on his Real Madrid shirt—a reference to the club’s record 15 Champions League titles, compared to Atletico’s zero.
Then, after his side secured victory, he took things one step further. Vinicius placed a Real Madrid jacket on the pitch, making sure the club’s famous badge was in full view before turning to the home crowd with a two-word message: “go home.”
The message was short, sharp, and savage. Having been jeered by the home supporters all night, the 24-year-old Brazilian relished his moment of revenge.
