Julian Alvarez's disallowed penalty proved crucial as Real Madrid edged out Atletico Madrid in a Champions League penalty shootout.

Real Madrid secured a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Atletico Madrid in their Champions League round of 16 clash, but the drama centered around Julian Alvarez's invalidated spot kick. With the aggregate score tied 2-2 after extra time, Alvarez stepped up to take Atletico's second penalty. His shot found the net, seemingly leveling the score at 2-2.

Why was Julián Alvarez's penalty disallowed by Champions League referees? | CBS Sports Golazo

However, before Federico Valverde could take Real Madrid's next penalty, the referee signaled that Alvarez's kick was under review, though play wasn't paused. After Valverde scored, the referee confirmed that Alvarez's penalty was disallowed. Replays showed that Alvarez had made illegal contact with the ball twice before it crossed the line, rendering the attempt invalid.

According to CBS Sports rules analyst Christina Unkel, the refereeing crew utilizes advanced technology to ensure accuracy in these situations. "The VAR also has the semi-automated offside technology where they are able to see at that kick point and have that extra technology to say when there is a touch on that ball," Unkel explained. This technology, incorporating multiple cameras and limb-tracking, allows VAR to precisely determine the moment of contact and identify any double touches that might not be visible to the naked eye. This level of scrutiny ultimately led to the crucial decision to disallow Alvarez's penalty, swinging the momentum firmly in Real Madrid's favor.