Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid: Blancos boost qualification hopes with thrilling win

Real Madrid sealed a much-needed 3-2 Champions League win at Atalanta on Tuesday, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham on target as they snapped a two-game losing streak.

Madrid handed the Serie A leaders their first defeat in this season’s revamped Champions League, having got off to a flying start via Mbappe.

The France international fired into the bottom-left corner in the 10th minute, though he was withdrawn due to an injury 10 minutes before the break.

Charles de Ketelaere equalised with a penalty after Aurelien Tchouameni tripped Sead Kolasinac from behind on the stroke of half-time, but that parity was short-lived as Vinicius slid home on the rebound in the 56th minute.

Bellingham extended Madrid’s lead by capping a counterattack three minutes later, with Ademola Lookman reduced the deficit by curling home in the 65th minute.

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois worked his magic with a string of saves in the latter stages, as Los Blancos moved up to 18th in the 36-team table on nine points, three points off the top eight. Atalanta, meanwhile, are ninth on 11 points.

10 – Real Madrid have won a Champions League group stage match by attempting so few shots (10) for the first time since November 2016 against Sporting CP under Zinedine Zidane (also 10). Effectiveness. pic.twitter.com/BMZKcAnswt

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 10, 2024

Data Debrief: Half-century for Mbappe

Mbappe’s goal was his 50th in the Champions League, making him the ninth player to reach that milestone in the competition.

At 25 years and 356 days old, he is the second-youngest to achieve the feat, after Lionel Messi did so at 24 years and 284 days.

Ancelotti will be concerned by the sight of him exiting with an injury midway through the first half, having appeared to pull something while making a run in behind.

Mbappe’s goal set Madrid on the way to their first away Champions League victory since beating RB Leipzig 1-0 in the last 16 last season – they had gone four without a win on the road before this one (two draws, two defeats).