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Real squeaked through on penalties against Atlético, but the new Galácticos resembled less a team than a disparate group of sulking prima donnas.

As normal time and extra-time ticked on, it was Real rather than Atlético who reached for the dark arts: Brahim Diaz threw himself to the ground in search of a penalty.

After taking the lead through Conor Gallagher on Wednesday, it was Diego Simeone’s team who had the tie by the throat.



A lack of quality in attack was costly, and Real proved just as adept at the spoiling tactics Simeone’s team are known for.



The penalty shootout – from that Alvarez decision to Marcos Llorente’s woodwork clank to Jan Oblak’s fumble of Antonio Rüdiger’s decisive kick – spoke of an Atlético team unable to overturn the weight of history.

Uefa sets different rules to the Premier League that “strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players that another club may (or may not) field in a match”.