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Champions League. 1/8 final. The first match
Bergamo. “Geviss Stadium”
“Atalanta” – “Real” 0: 1
Aim: Mendi 86
Atalanta: Gollini, Toloi, Romero, Jimcity, Mele (Palomino 85), De Roon, Froyler, Gosens, Pessina, D. Zapata (Pasalic 30), Muriel (Ilicic 56, Malinowski 86)
“True”: Courtois, A. Vasquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendi, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Asensio (Arribas 76), Isco (Duro 76), Vinicius (Díaz 58)
Warnings: Gozens 71 – Casemiro 23, Mandy 55
Removing: Freiler 17 (straight red)
Chief referee: Tobias Stiller (Germany)
Without Benzema, Ramos, Carvajal, Marcelo, Valverde, Azar and others. With only 11 players from the first team in the app. After four consecutive victories in the League, in terms of attack, they did not convince anyone. You are still not completely free of thoughts about a terrible January and an extremely difficult season in general. The “Real” arrived in Bergamo in almost the worst possible condition. So much so that almost all bookmakers preferred Atalanta. A brilliant team that also survived a weak January, but left it with fewer losses and better performance in February. However, the experience of “creamy” has developed today.
Before the game, Toni Kroos spoke about the desire to possess the ball, to build the game through the center of the field. The German and two other legendary midfielders, Modric and Casemiro, did. They clearly exceeded the initial pressure of “Atalanta”, in the 17th minute they came out with 65 percent of the ball. Let’s leave and, as the opponent, without blows. And on the 17th they were in a numerical majority. Left-back Mendy took the lead and was brought down by Freuler before entering the penalty area. Outside the center, the second defender could still have time. However, referee Tobias Stieler was quick to show the red card. Cruel and wrong decision.
Another 20 minutes, “Atalanta” held out without problems. “Real” just rolled the ball slowly. Another advance from the left was completed by Nacho (again defense) inaccurately. But then the pressure began to manifest itself. They fled again to the left. Isco put the ball into the penalty area. He and Vinicius were locked in killing positions. Gollini had to throw Casemiro’s head strike point-blank with brilliant instinct. At the beginning of the second part, Mele’s fingers almost prevented Modric from completing an excellent combination. Gosens blocked Vinicius. Bergamans tried to respond only with a low shot from Muriel in the 41st minute. Wrong.
One minute to 60, the hosts finally managed to calm down, reduce pressure and pace. Even press for a few minutes. They seemed to have forgotten that they were playing with ten men. So is the rival. Perhaps, the fatigue of Madrid, recently playing with the same squad, began to affect its scarce bench. In the 75th minute they returned to the gate Gollini. Just for an inaccurate hit from Kroos from 30 meters. They also had to stay with ten men after the mock penalty already posted on Casemiro’s card. But they did not. And almost immediately they found their target. Mendy spun cold from a distance.
****
Real Madrid beat Italy for the sixth time in a row. In his 100th playoff game, he does the job, which he came to do. This is not the first time this season he has played badly on offense and strong on defense. Well, the scandals of the referee in the matches with his participation in the League, in the Champions League, we have already seen it more than once. We saw defenders and defenders replace eliminated and just weak attackers. In the previous league match in Valladolid (and there were complaints to the referees), the winning goal was scored by a defensive player. Here the defender distinguished himself. Twice. And he won an elimination and scored the winning goal.
And the Atalanta? She is left with compliments. And hoping to catch up on the return to Madrid. It is not unfounded, because traditionally he plays better outside than at home. In the group stage, they did not score a single home win and three away wins, including over Ajax and Liverpool. Before the game, his mentor Gian Piero Gasperini only wanted to come to Madrid with a real chance of going out. That undoubtedly remained.
