The roar inside the Metropolitano came almost before anyone could blink. Conor Gallagher, wearing Atlético Madrid’s red and white stripes, crashed the ball into Thibaut Courtois’s net just 27 seconds into the second leg against Real Madrid.

With that single strike, he etched his name in Champions League lore as the fastest-ever English scorer in the competition. It felt like a moment that had been simmering for weeks. Gallagher arrived in determined to make his mark, none more than tonight. With that goal, Gallagher also became the first Englishman to score in a Madrid derby.

Gallagher benefited from a rare slip in Real Madrid’s defense and finished with authority. He stabbed it home to set Atlético off to a dream start and send shockwaves through the stadium. The goal from the former Chelsea midfielder wiped out Real’s 2-1 advantage from the first leg and instantly brought the aggregate level.

In 2007, Roy Makaay stunned Real Madrid with a goal for Bayern Munich in just over ten seconds. Gallagher’s finish wasn’t that fast, yet it was swift enough to grab the headlines. Let’s see if the first-half strike can propel Atletico to the next round.