Bellingham gives Atalanta too much to do as Real Madrid show they are back | Champions League

As it turns out, the rumors about Real Madrid’s impending Champions League exit were exaggerated. So I had suggestions as to whether Kylian Mbappé would be a bad fit in Carlo Ancelotti’s side when a clear opener can be expected, even if his eventual departure through injury means the question marks will remain. Ultimately, the defending champions could have been relieved to move back into contention for an automatic knockout place, and the fact that Atalanta, full of energy and energy until the end, were cheered in defeat said everything about the defeat Tenor of a pulsating evening.

It ended with Mateo Retegui firing a volley over the goal from point-blank range, although a likely offside call saved him from blushing. The home side deserve to extend their 14-game unbeaten streak, which lasted until the end of September. Everyone leaves this rebuilt venue, the most modern in Italy but still with a dream atmosphere, knowing they were there in a game and Real went the distance. Atalanta were still expected to reach the last 16 one way or another and as the teams left the game there was a feeling that there could soon be another meeting with even more at stake.

They had faced each other almost four months earlier in Warsaw, winners of Europe’s most important tournaments fighting for the Super Cup. That evening, Mbappé scored on his debut and Real got through relatively comfortably; How he needed more of that good feeling here after concerns grew over his missed penalty at Anfield. Real also needed something: they shouldn’t fail on this stage, not in a tournament expanded in part to give its superpowers maximum security, but defeat would have tarnished that prospect even in the new year.

The joy came quickly. After Liverpool’s setback, Ancelotti suspected Mbappé was lacking confidence, and when he escaped in the second minute but had Marco Carnesecchi blocked, the evidence seemed convincing. Mbappé had scored from a similar position against Girona at the weekend, but Real really needed him here. At least he could rely on further chances: Atalanta’s aggressiveness invited runs into empty spaces and the next one brought rich rewards.

This time Mbappé competed with the ease and confidence that characterize football’s aliens. The result was Brahim Díaz’s deft footwork coupled with a great pass, but it was the presence of mind to let the ball run over Marten de Roon that allowed Mbappé to open the scoring. Now he had a clear view and responded immediately by firing unstoppably to Carnesecchi’s right, scoring his 50th goal of the competition.

He shot clean for the third time in the 14th minute, his confidence clearly not being an issue as he shot early. Carnesecchi made the save and, contrary to expectations, it was the last anyone saw of the duel. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Mbappé sat down at the center circle, limped away and ran down the tunnel after Rodrygo replaced him. “A muscle problem, we have to assess that tomorrow,” said Ancelotti. At first glance it didn’t look serious and Real, who have suffered a series of failures, will not want to let their newfound momentum be lost.

Their progress that evening was halted by Aurélien Tchouaméni’s strike on Sead Kolasinac and Atalanta, who had forced several desperate saves without creating a real chance, were awarded a penalty. Charles De Ketelaere shot the ball past Thibaut Courtois; There was no time for a restart before half-time and Real appeared ready to continue flirting with the unthinkable.

When they reemerged they weathered a storm, with Courtois parrying the exuberant Ademola Lookman before doing what they had done so often. A Real attack appeared to have collapsed when Éderson, the otherwise excellent midfielder, accidentally played the ball into the path of Vinícius Júnior. The second-best player of the year was sharp, turned and rammed Carnesecchi home.

Real had been waiting for Vinícius to awaken; The same was asked of Jude Bellingham, who offered little other than a cross that Antonio Rüdiger could have converted. So when both players scored a wonderful goal almost immediately afterwards, with Vinícius offering a magnificent 50-yard pass down the inside right and watching his teammate stroll inside before curling in with his left foot, they finally seemed to be in full swing be.

“It was important that we did the basic things well and then the quality would shine through,” Bellingham said. Atalanta, the Serie A leaders who continually outdo themselves, have plenty of it too and responded quickly with Lookman’s lightning strike. There was a hectic final quarter in which Retegui tested Courtois, among others, before Real could wonder whether the stars would favor them again.