Winning the Ballon d’Or is often synonymous with winning the Champions League, although plenty of former winners have managed to win the prestigious prize without European success. Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or hopes were recently dashed when Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League on penalties against PSG.

Atletico has to overcome a one-goal deficit to eliminate bitter rival Real in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie to maintain chance of winning Europe's biggest prize

The Champions League quarterfinals bracket was set Wednesday, and it sends Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain toward more English teams standing in their path of the title. Madrid's beat city rival Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 on Wednesday — after Atletico's 1-0 win tied the aggregate score at 2-2 — having already eliminated Manchester City in the new knockout playoffs round last month.

Real Madrid punched their tickets to the Champions League quarterfinals and now await another knockout stage tie against a Premier League club. The Champions League round of 16 tie between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid ended with a penalty shootout in which Los Blancos came out on top.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are facing off in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, with both teams' seasons on the line in this crucial match. This Wednesday, the final matches of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 round of 16 are being decided.