Real Madrid keep CL title defence alive

MADRID (AP):

Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in a Champions League (CL) penalty shootout -- again -- to keep their title defence alive yesterday and advance to the quarterfinals.

Defender Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive spot-kick in a 4-2 shootout win after two Atletico players missed. Marco Llorente's shot struck the bar after Julian Alvarez's scored but his effort was disallowed because he touched the ball twice.

Madrid also beat Atletico in a shootout to win the 2016 final -- part of a streak of eliminating their city rival in the knockout rounds for four straight years, starting with the 2014 final.

Madrid move on to the quarterfinals to face Arsenal, who also advanced yesterday along with Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund. The quarterfinals line-up was completed with Madrid's win in a tense derby that had ended 2-2 on aggregate score.

Atletico led 1-0 after 90 minutes and extra time in their Metropolitano Stadium to cancel out Madrid's 2-1 advantage from the first leg last week.

Two key incidents defined regulation time. Atletico Madrid scored within 30 seconds and Real Madrid missed a penalty in the 70th minute.

Atletico took the lead with their first attack when England midfielder Conor Gallagher pounced on the ball from close range when a cross by Rodrigo De Paul was deflected into the goalmouth.

Madrid star Vinicius Junior blazed a penalty kick high over the Atletico goal when he could have sent the 15-time champion through. He was substituted in extra time for fellow Brazilian, Endrick.

Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham stepped up to score Madrid's first two spot kicks, and Fede Valverde also scored before Lucas Vazquez's kick was saved by Jan Oblak.

It was more relaxed in London, where Arsenal rested some regulars in a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven to run up a 9-3 aggregate score.

Aston Villa also had a stress-free evening at home to ensure England has two teams in the quarterfinals, one night after Premier League leaders Liverpool were beaten at Anfield by Paris Saint-Germain in a shootout.

Villa won 3-0 against Club Brugge, who played with 10 men from the 17th, after a 3-1 win in Belgium last week. Brugge defender Kyriani Sabbe was sent off for pulling back Marcus Rashford when running clear on goal.

The quarterfinal pairings are: Arsenal vs Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa, Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan.