VAR Double-Touch Penalty Shatters Atletico Madrid's UCL Hopes
Explore the rare double-touch penalty call via VAR that crushed Atletico Madrid's hopes in the UCL against Real Madrid. Dive into the rules, reactions, and historical stats surrounding this dramatic event.
3/19/20253 min read
⚽ Champions League Drama: The Double-Touch Penalty That Shattered Atletico Madrid’s Dreams 🏆**
In a heart-stopping *Champions League* showdown that will be etched into football history, **Atletico Madrid** faced their arch-rivals **Real Madrid** in a nail-biting penalty shootout—only to be crushed by a rare and controversial **double-touch penalty** call. Let’s unpack the chaos, the rules, and the emotions that turned this derby into an unforgettable saga!
### 🎯 **The Moment That Changed Everything: Alvarez’s Penalty Saga**
With the aggregate score locked at **2-2** after extra time, the match hinged on a penalty shootout. After three successful spot kicks, **Julian Alvarez** (Atletico’s Argentine striker) stepped up, slipped mid-shot, and *still* rocketed the ball into the top-left corner. The stadium erupted—until **VAR** intervened.
🔍 **What VAR Saw**: Replays revealed Alvarez’s standing foot grazed the ball *twice* during his slip. Under **IFAB Law 14.1**, *“the kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.”* The goal was disallowed, swinging momentum to Real Madrid, who clinched the shootout **4-2**.
**Key Highlight**:
- Alvarez’s penalty initially appeared heroic, but the **double contact** became Atletico’s nightmare.
- Real’s **Antonio Rüdiger** sealed the win with a cold-blooded final penalty, leaving Atletico fans devastated.
### 📜 **The Rulebook Under the Microscope**
Why was Alvarez’s goal disallowed? Let’s break down the **IFAB Law 14.1**:
1. **Single Touch Only**: A player cannot touch the ball twice during a penalty.
2. **Consequence**: If violated, the opposing team gets an *indirect free-kick* during regular play. In shootouts, it’s an automatic miss.
🏛️ **Historical Precedents**:
- **2017**: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) vs. Man City – Disallowed for a double touch.
- **2023**: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) vs. Newcastle – Same fate.
- **Controversy Alert**: In a 2023 Scottish Premiership match, Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski scored despite a double touch, sparking debates over VAR consistency.
### 🗣️ **Reactions: Fury, Acceptance, and Confusion**
**Diego Simeone** (Atletico Coach):
*“Did anyone here see the double touch? No hands raised? Exactly. I trust VAR, but this feels bitter.”*
**Carlo Ancelotti** (Real Madrid Coach):
*“The call was correct. Alvarez’s left foot grazed the ball—it’s clear in replays.”*
**Thibaut Courtois** (Real Goalkeeper):
*“Rules are rules. Unlucky for Alvarez, but we’ll take the edge!”*
**Shay Given** (BBC Pundit):
*“The ball didn’t change direction, but the law is black-and-white. Tough lesson for Atletico.”*
### 📊 **By the Numbers: Real’s Domination Over Atletico**
**6/6 Shootout Wins**: Real Madrid have beaten Atletico in *all six* penalty deciders.
- **5 Knockout Eliminations**: Atletico have fallen to Real *five times* in UCL knockouts—only Bayern (vs. Real) have suffered more (7).
- **27-Second Goal**: Conor Gallagher’s lightning strike for Atletico was the *fastest* in a UCL Madrid derby.
### 🔮 **Expert Insight: Guillem Balague’s Take**
Spanish football guru **Guillem Balague** revealed post-match tensions:
- **Mbappe’s Struggles**: “He hid an ankle injury and a torn toenail. He refused to take a penalty in normal time!”
- **Vinicius Jr’s Miss**: With Mbappe sidelined, Vinicius skied his penalty, adding drama before the shootout.
- **Rüdiger’s Redemption**: Ancelotti subbed in the German last-minute, and he delivered under pressure.
### 💔 **Atletico’s Agony vs. Real’s Resilience**
While Atletico fought valiantly—**Jan Oblak’s saves**, Gallagher’s early goal—their curse against Real continues. For Los Blancos, this win fuels their hunt for a **16th European Cup**, proving their knack for thriving in chaos.
### 🌟 **The Bigger Picture: Fine Margins in Football**
This match epitomizes how **VAR** and *millimeter decisions* shape legacies. For Atletico, it’s a brutal reminder of football’s cruelty. For Real, it’s another chapter in their **royal European saga**.
**👉 Share Your Thoughts!**
Was VAR right to disallow Alvarez’s goal? Could Atletico have won otherwise? Comment below! 💬
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