Atalanta’s journey in the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League campaign ends in the Round of 16: at the stadium Alfredo Di Stefano, Real Madrid win also in the second leg (3-1) after the 1-0 win in Bergamo and progress in the competition.
The Nerazzurri players approached the game with courage and got dangerous on 3 with Gosens who burst into the box but could only prod Muriel’s cross into the arms of the goalkeeper. The game was balanced, as the first chance for Real Madrid arrived on 27: Benzema and Vinicius quickly combined, but Djimsiti’s block on the shot was providential. Real took the lead on 34 through Benzema, assisted by Modric who make the most of a short clearance to send the forward clear on goal.
In the second half, after Vinicius went for a slalom through the Nerazzurri defenders and fired wide, Sergio Ramos converted a penalty on 60 to double Real’s lead (Toloi’s foul on Vinicius). Despite being two goals down, the Nerazzurri’s reaction was generous. First, an angled drive from Pessina flashed wide, then Zapata tested Courtois on 67. On the counter-attack, Sportiello first and the post denied Benzema’s headers. Zapata got dangerous again on 76, but his shot was parried by the goalkeeper. The perfect free-kick from Muriel pulled one back for Atalanta on 76. But only a minute later, Asensio finished it off for the final 3-1 scoreline and sealed the qualification for Real Madrid.
REAL MADRID 3-1 ATALANTA
Scorers: Benzema 34 (RM), Sergio Ramos 60 pen (RM), Muriel 83 (A), Asensio 84 (RM).
Real Madrid: Courtois, Varane, Sergio Ramos (Militao 64), Nacho, Lucas Vazquez, Modric, Kroos, Valverde (Asensio 82), Mendy, Benzema, Vinicius Junior (Rodrygo 69). Bench: Lunin, Altube, Marcelo, Isco, Hugo Duro. Coach: Zinedine Zidane.
Atalanta: Sportiello, Toloi (16′ s.t. Palomino), Romero, Djimsiti, Mæhle, Pessina (Caldara 84), de Roon, Gosens (Iličić 57), Malinovskyi, Pašalić (Zapata 46), Muriel (Miranchuk 84). Bench: Rossi, Gollini, Lammers, Ruggeri, Ghislandi. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED).
Assistants: Hessel Steegstra (NED) and Mario Diks (NED).
Fourth official: Allard Lindhout (NED).
V.A.R.: Kevin Blom (NED).
A.V.A.R.: Jochem Kamphuis (NED).
Notes: Valverde (RM), Nacho (RM), Kroos (RM), Toloi (A) booked.
