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Ferland Mendy put Real Madrid close to the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday with the late goal that sank the 10-man Atalanta 1-0 in Bergamo. The French left-back’s curling came four minutes from time in a round-of-16 first leg in which the hosts had to play one man less for more than 70 minutes, giving Zinedine Zidane’s team the advantage ahead of the return leg in Madrid in March. 16. “We didn’t have a great game tonight, but the most important thing was the result, scoring away was important for us,” said Zidane.
“It’s a very good result against Atalanta even at ten, because they defended very well.
“The tie is open. We are going to have a great second leg.”
Atalanta had attacked early, but the game was transformed when Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler was sent off harshly in the 17th minute for tripping Mendy on the edge of the penalty area.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s problems continued with forward Duvan Zapata limping after half an hour from a muscle problem with midfielder Mario Pasalic coming off the bench.
“The game was ruined,” Gasperini said.
“I don’t know what would have happened 11 against 11.
“They just banned me for saying something in Serie A, if I say something now, UEFA will ban me. But this is football suicide.”
“Enough of these referees who have never played a game and don’t know the difference between a challenge and a foul.”
Advantage Madrid
Spanish midfielder Isco got off to an unusual start up front for Real Madrid, affected by injury, playing alongside Marco Asensio and Vinicius.
The thirteen-time European champions were left without striker Karim Benzema with an ankle problem with an injured list that also included Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard and Dani Carvajal.
“It is true that there are many casualties, but the players who are here are doing well, committed, every time there is a change we adapt,” added Zidane.
But Zidane’s team failed to get the most out of the extra man despite being closer to breaking through in the first half with a Casemiro header, with Nacho, Isco and Vin ~ CHECK ~ cius Junior also threatening and Luka Modric shooting .
Atalanta continued to attack, and Luis Muriel lost the opportunity to give the hosts the lead four minutes before the break with a long-range shot that went just wide.
Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini kept the score when he stopped a Casemiro header on a free kick before the half-time whistle.
Josip Ilicic replaced Muriel in the 56th minute.
The Slovenian scored five goals against Valencia at this stage of the competition last season, but was substituted four minutes from time after a poor performance.
Soon after, Madrid broke through thanks to Mendy, who beat Gollini with a sleek, curly effort in the top corner.
Madrid have the advantage heading into the second leg, having lost the quarter-finals in the last two seasons.
“Normally there are many goals in matches against Atalanta, we expected a difficult match but after the red it was normal for them to defend in depth,” said Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Atalanta needs a historic effort in the first leg to reach the knockout stages for the second year in a row.
The Bergamo team won their last 16 first leg matches against Valencia 4-1 a year ago in front of 45,000 spectators at the San Siro in Milan.
That match was considered to have been one of the reasons behind the acceleration of the coronavirus in Italy with Bergamo at the epicenter of the country’s outbreak.
Promoted
They are in their second season in the Champions League, but Wednesday’s game was the first knockout game at their home stadium, which was renewed last season.
And thousands of fans ignored the Italian team’s plea to stay away with a party atmosphere outside the stadium with a fireworks display.
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