Arsenal will take on reigning Champions League winners, Real Madrid, in the quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shootout at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico Madrid secured a 1-0 victory on the night, with Conor Gallagher’s early goal leveling the tie on aggregate.
With neither side able to find a winner in extra time, the match was decided by penalties, where Real Madrid triumphed 4-2.
Antonio Rüdiger converted the decisive spot-kick to seal Madrid’s place in the next round.
However, the shootout was not without controversy.
After Kylian Mbappé, Alexander Sørloth, and Jude Bellingham successfully converted their penalties, Julian Álvarez stepped up and appeared to score, making it 2-2. But just as Federico Valverde was about to take the next penalty, referee Szymon Marciniak halted play.
VAR intervened, informing the Polish official that Álvarez’s penalty had made contact with his standing foot after he struck the ball—a rare “double touch” infringement. As a result, the goal was disallowed, meaning Madrid retained their lead.
Shortly after, Rüdiger fired home to secure Real Madrid’s passage to the quarter-finals, where they will face Arsenal.
The decision left many fans confused, as the “double touch” rule is not widely known.
Here are five lesser-known penalty rules in football:
1. Passing a Penalty
Contrary to popular belief, a penalty kick does not have to be shot directly at goal. The taker is allowed to pass the ball forward for a teammate to finish—provided it touches another player before they strike it again. Legends like Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi have successfully pulled off this trick, though Arsenal duo Robert Pirès and Thierry Henry famously failed in their 2005 attempt.
2. Encroachment by Attackers or Defenders
If a teammate of the penalty taker enters the box before the ball is kicked and a goal is scored, the penalty must be retaken. If the shot is saved or missed, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team. Conversely, if a defender encroaches and the penalty is missed or saved, the kick must be retaken.
3. The “Double Touch” Rule
As seen in the Álvarez controversy, if a penalty taker accidentally makes contact with the ball twice before another player touches it—such as when it rebounds off their own foot—it results in an indirect free kick for the opposing team.
Read Also: Alvarez completes switch from Man City to Atletico Madrid
4. Feinting During the Run-Up
Players are allowed to feint during their run-up to a penalty, but once they complete their run-up, any further hesitation is considered illegal. Stopping completely before striking the ball results in an indirect free kick and possibly a yellow card for unsporting behavior.
5. Goalkeeper Movement Restrictions
When facing a penalty, goalkeepers must have at least part of one foot on, behind, or in line with the goal line at the moment the ball is struck. Moving off the line too early can result in a retake, and repeated infractions may lead to a yellow card.
