[ad_1]
A goal from Benzema (a gift from Sportiello), a penalty from Sergio Ramos and the sharpness of Asensio decided the game against Valdebebas. For the Orobics Muriel winning punishment
Atalanta loses 3-1 to Real Madrid and says goodbye to the Champions League in the round of 16. It is not a matter of the Goddess who, after the 0-1 in Bergamo, starts well but pays dearly for individual errors. At 34 ‘Sportiello fails the postponement, Modric intercepts and Benzema brands. In the second half Ilicic fails a support when launching Vinicius lying down by Toloi: Sergio Ramos scores the penalty (60 ‘). Muriel in free throw goes 1-2 (83 ‘), Asensio drops the trio at 85 ‘.
THE MATCH
We needed a feat, a half miracle against the most famous team in the Champions League, but there was nothing to do. Real Madrid affirms its highest quality, takes advantage of the gifts of the Bergamo players and flies to the quarterfinals with all the merit. The applause, however, also goes to the Goddess, who starts better than the Spanish and for half an hour is preferred as a match, although Courtois does not have to make complicated stops. Zidane, who recovers Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Valverde in front of the first leg, displays his Real in the mirror, a clear sign of respect. Gasp, on the other hand, surprisingly leaves Zapata on the bench and relies on the Pasalic-Malinovskyi duo behind Muriel. The Colombian gives Gosens at 3 ‘a ball that the German hits weakly a few steps from the goalkeeper. The whites, without the irreplaceable Casemiro at the helm, struggle to play and it takes 27 minutes to start a remarkable action: Benzema-Vinicius exchange, the Brazilian’s shot is blocked by Djimsiti in a slip. La Diosa is well organized, but pays a high price for Sportiello’s postponement error: Modric intercepts and serves Benzema for the easy 1-0. For the French it is the 21st goal of the season.
The conceded goal hardly changes the attitude of Atalanta, which in any case always needs two goals. Gasp plays the Zapata card for Pasalic, increasing the weight in attack. The spaces, however, increase and Vinicius after an action of 70 meters and the slalom on 4 opponents starts to walk face to face with Sportiello (52 ‘). A clear alarm bell and the tortilla is served when Ilicic misses a pass in the center of the field: the Brazilian, who is impregnable when he starts at speed, is knocked down by Toloi inside the area. From the place Sergio Ramos is not wrong and after an hour of play the mission-classification is at the limit of the impossible. Zapata has the ball on the right to shorten the distance, but Courtois rejects (67 ‘). A minute later Sportiello says no to a Benzema header that takes the post on the rebound. First of the crisp final there is still a Zapata-Courtois duel, again won by the Belgian number 1 (76 ‘). At 83 ‘Muriel scored the goal of the flag in a free kick but Asensio, who had entered a few minutes ago, still left Sportiello dry on his pole for the final 3-1 (85’). The match ends with Sportiello’s parade on Rodrygo. Real continues, Atalanta is sent home and now they will have to win another historic participation in the most prestigious cup in the league.
TABLE
REAL MADRID-ATALANTA 3-1
Real Madrid (3-5-2): Courtois; Varane, Sergio Ramos (19 ‘Militao), Nacho; Lucas Vázquez, Kroos; Modric, Valverde (37 ‘Asensio), Mendy; Benzema, Vinicius (24 ‘Rodrygo). Available: Lunin, Altube, Marcelo, Isco, Hugo Duro. Everyone.: Zidane
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Sportiello; Toloi (16 ‘st Palomino), Romero, Djimsiti; Maehle, De Roon, Pessina (39 ‘st Caldara), Gosens (12’ st Ilicic); Malinovskyi, Pasalic (1st Zapata); Muriel (39 ‘San Miranchuk). Available: Rossi, Gollini, Lammers, Ruggeri, Ghislandi. Everyone.: Gasperini
Referee: Makkelie (Netherlands)
Markers: 34 ‘Benzema (R), 15’ rig. Sergio Ramos (R), 38 ‘Muriel (A), 40’ Asensio (R)
Ammonites: Valverde (right), Toloi (right), Nacho (right), Kroos (right)
Expelled: –
Note: –
THE STATISTICS
It was since the 1987/88 Recopa semi-final against Mechelen that Atalanta had not lost both games in a European tie.
Real Madrid have won 12 of their last 13 matches against Italian teams in the Champions League (1P).
Since his debut for Atalanta in 2019/20, Luis Muriel has scored 10 goals with shots from outside the area, more than any other Serie A player in the same period considering all competitions.
Karim Benzema (21) has scored at least 15 more goals than any other Real Madrid player this season, considering all competitions (Casemiro, 6).
This is the tenth season in which Karim Benzema has scored more than 5 goals in the Champions League, only Messi (13) and Ronaldo (11) count more.
Six of Karim Benzema’s 70 goals in the Champions League were scored against Italian teams (against five different teams).
Only Roberto Carlos (16) has scored more goals than Sergio Ramos (15) among Champions defenses.
No stadium has seen more errors that have led to the goal in this Champions League than Alfredo di Stéfano (three, three goals from Real Madrid): only Liverpool (four) have scored more goals after errors by their rival.
Before tonight, Atalanta had not suffered a single goal away from home in this Champions League.
Atalanta lined up its youngest starting eleven tonight in a Champions League match (27 years, 49 days).
Rafael Tolói played his 200th match with the Atalanta jersey, considering all competitions.
