Just like Sergio Ramos did against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final, Jude Bellingham rose into the air to meet an object with his head—only this time, it wasn’t a soccer ball.
The UEFA Champions League has seen its fair share of high-octane drama, unforgettable moments, and fierce rivalries. But on one particular night at the Metropolitano Stadium, an incident during Real Madrid’s clash with Atletico Madrid left fans in shock.
In an eerily familiar scene reminiscent of the 2014 Champions League final, one Real Madrid star found himself at the center of controversy, drawing the fury of the Atletico supporters. The match had already reached its boiling point after a nail-biting penalty shootout, but when an object was hurled from the stands towards a celebrating Los Blancos player, what happened next left even the most seasoned soccer fans in disbelief.
The Madrid Derby was as intense as any derby should be. The two fierce rivals had already met twice in the past month, and this latest encounter – in the Champions League Round of 16 – was the most dramatic of them all. But when Los Blancos erupted into celebration after the end of the game, running towards their fans high up in the stadium, the remaining Atletico supporters reacted with fury.
As the victorious Whites’ players celebrated, objects began to rain down from the home crowd. One plastic bottle flew through the air, heading straight for Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham se vuelve loco en la celebración del pase a cuartos… e incluso ¡¡remata de cabeza una botella que le tiran desde la grada!! pic.twitter.com/a5k5Ew7byK
— MARCA (@marca) March 12, 2025
Instead of ducking or dodging it, the English midfielder did something utterly unexpected—he jumped up and headed the bottle away, as if it were a ball coming towards him for a set-piece finish. The moment instantly went viral, with some Madrid fans comparing his reaction to Sergio Ramos’ legendary header against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final—a goal that eventually helped Madrid secure their long-awaited La Decima.
Madrid’s rivalry with Atletico reaches new level
With Carlo Ancelotti’s players advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of their city rivals, emotions ran high among both players and fans. The fiery nature of the clash was on full display, with Atletico supporters furious over their club’s elimination at home.
However, the Englishman wasn’t the only Los Blancos star to provoke them. Antonio Rudiger, who slotted home the decisive penalty, made a bold celebration, running toward Colchoneros’ fans and sparking further outrage among the home supporters.
Meanwhile, Vinicius also joined in on the celebrations in a way that fueled Atletico’s frustration. The Brazilian, who was substituted just before the shootout, pointed to the 15 Champions League trophies printed on his Madrid shirt, a clear reminder of Real Madrid’s European dominance—especially over their city rivals.
After the match, he even took to social media to further tease the rival fans, reminding them of the stark difference in European success between the two clubs.
