Published By: Valdemar Carnegie
Updated: 4:06 PM EST, March 15, 2025
Original Photo: Getty Images
On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Atlético Madrid faced Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Real Madrid won on penalties, securing their spot in the quarterfinals. During the penalty shootout, there was a controversial call that left fans very upset.
Was It a Double Tap?
Atlético Madrid erased their first-leg deficit with a goal just 27 seconds in from Conor Gallagher. The game went to extra time after Vinícius Júnior missed a key chance, sending a 70th-minute penalty well over the crossbar.
He didn’t get a chance to make up for the miss in the shootout, but his teammates came through, winning 4-2 on penalties. The shootout had its share of drama, as Julián Álvarez’s successful spot kick was overturned by VAR after he slipped and made contact with the ball twice.
Original Photo: Getty Images
The scoreboard showed 2-2 after Álvarez’s attempt, which likely caused some confusion in the stands, but Real Madrid was actually leading 3-1 at that point.
Atlético’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Lucas Vázquez’s penalty, giving his team a brief glimmer of hope. However, Marcos Llorente hit the crossbar for Atlético, and Germany defender Antonio Rüdiger sealed the win for Real Madrid with the final kick. After Rüdiger’s goal, many Atlético Madrid fans were left in tears.
As of now, Álvarez has not publicly commented on the disallowed penalty during the recent match against Real Madrid. However, according to ESPN, he was reportedly “incredulous” over the decision, although footage appeared to show him acknowledging the possibility of a double touch in conversations with teammates.
Oblak, mentioned that he spoke with Álvarez after the incident, and even Álvarez was uncertain about what had occurred.
In response to the controversy, UEFA released frame-by-frame footage showing “minimal” contact with the ball by Álvarez’s standing leg. The organization stated that they will “enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB” to consider potential changes to the rule that led to the penalty being disallowed
Atlético Madrid’s manager Diego Simeone, visibly upset over the disallowed penalty, challenged the attending journalists by saying, “Raise your hand if you think Julián touched the ball twice… I don’t see any hands.” He further commented, “When Julián kicks [the penalty], the ball doesn’t even move a bit.”
In the end, even though it was a tough call, the referees seemed to get it right. From different angles — especially from the goalkeeper’s view — it looks like Álvarez’s left foot lightly touched the ball when he slipped. Even though the ball didn’t really move, the rule is clear: you can’t touch the ball twice during a penalty. It was a tough break for Atlético Madrid and their fans, but the right call was made.