Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid: Player ratings as Mbappe scores in much-needed victory
- Real Madrid beat Atalanta 3-2 on Tuesday
- Mbappe opened scoring before limping off in entertaining first half
- Vinicius & Bellingham also on target for visitors
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid kept their slim hopes of automatic qualification from the Champions League league phase with a narrow 3-2 win over Atalanta on Tuesday.
A dominant first-half showing saw Madrid take a deserved lead through Kylian Mbappe, whose departure from injury before the interval changed the narrative of the game. Atalanta pounced on the uncertainty as Charles De Ketelaere scored a penalty with the final kick of the first half.
Vinicius Junior pounced on a fortunate deflection to restore Madrid's advantage and Jude Bellingham scored soon after, but Atalanta slashed the deficit with Ademola Lookman's fine strike from the edge of the box.
Atalanta had the momentum on their side and Lookman continued to torment Madrid's makeshift defence, with the visitors forced to hold on and watch the clock tick down. Mario Retegui should have scored in the dying embers, volleying over from three yards out when it looked easier to score.
The final whistle was music to the ears of every Madrid fan. Three points takes them to within a further three of the automatic qualification spots, although that gap could be stretched slightly after Wednesday's action.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Thibaut Courtois | 7.7/10 |
RB: Lucas Vazquez | 7.3/10 |
CB: Aurelien Tchouameni | 6.4/10 |
CB: Antonio Rudiger | 6.8/10 |
LB: Fran Garcia | 7.4/10 |
DM: Dani Ceballos | 7.5/10 |
DM: Federico Valverde | 7.1/10 |
RM: Brahim Diaz | 8.2/10 |
AM: Jude Bellingham | 8.6/10 |
LM: Vinicius Junior | 8.6/10 |
ST: Kylian Mbappe | 7.6/10 |
SUB: Rodrygo (36' for Mbappe) | 6.3/10 |
SUB: Luka Modric (83' for Ceballos) | N/A |
SUB: Raul Asencio (83' for Brahim) | N/A |
SUB: Arda Guler (87' for Bellingham) | N/A |
Subs not used: Andriy Lunin (GK), Sergio Mestre (GK), Jesus Vallejo, Youssef Enriquez, Chema Andres, Endrick
Player of the match - Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
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