JUDE BELLINGHAM and the Kings of Europe will take on Arsenal in the quarter-finals after Real Madrid’s dramatic derby win.
Conor Gallagher scored a shocking 27-second opener to level things up, but Atletico Madrid could not find a winner against their old rivals.
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Everything looked to be going against Real, especially when Vinicius Junior missed a woeful normal-time penalty.
But they turned it around in the shootout – as they always do against Atletico – but not without some controversy.
Julian Alvarez slipped as he tucked home a penalty – but it was dramatically referred to VAR.
The shootout continued before the effort was disallowed as the ex-Manchester City forward was ruled to have touched the ball twice.
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However, many fans appeared to remain in the dark over the intervention of the assistant referee.
Jan Oblak went onto save from Real wideman Lucas Vazquez, but the keeper’s team-mate Marcos Llorente then struck the bar.
That enabled Antonio Rudiger to squirm home Real’s winning kick under the grasp of Oblak – with Atleti supporters now realising the full impact of VAR.
The fire and fury from Atletico’s fans, who saluted them in defeat, had been imposingat the start.
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But it was simply ear-splitting inside 30 seconds, when Gallagher struck.
It was Atleti’s tenacity which made the goal. After Antoine Griezmann won the ball in the Real half, it was shifted right where Rodrigo De Paul crossed.
Guiliano Simeone, the boss’ son, could not quite connect but the deflection fell for Gallagher to prod in on just his second start in 11 games.
Real steadied themselves but were not at all dangerous. Atleti had all the energy, all the passion.
So much so you worried it was too much.
But they kept up their intensity after the break, continuing to rattle Real and cause trouble.
The 15-time champions had a look of a side who had nothing going for them, evidenced with Vinicius’ horrendous spot kick.
The first time Kylian Mbappe – absent until now – had been given space he punished the hosts, winning a penalty from Lenglet’s clumsy attempt at a challenge.
But his Brazilian teammate, the man so angered at not winning the Ballon d’Or, sent his shot so high over the bar it could have landed in the Bernabeu.
It was a devastating blow, but they were still level in the tie.
Atleti tried for a winner in normal time, Simeone and Griezmann both having a go from range. Sub Angel Correa blazed over the bar in the 90th minute when he could have squared.
As has been the case in the previous six cup ties between these rivals, extra time was needed – though both were playing for penalties by the end of it.
Bellingham had been off the boil for the most part but converted his spot kick, along with Mbappe and Fede Valverde and Rudiger to send the holders through.
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