Carlo Ancelotti commended Kylian Mbappé’s performance in Real Madrid’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Atalanta in the Champions League, despite acknowledging that Mbappé was not playing at full fitness. The match, held on Tuesday, marked a crucial win for Madrid, ending their two-game losing streak in the tournament.
The match kicked off positively for Real Madrid as Mbappé opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a well-placed shot inside the box, set up by Brahim Diaz. However, his contributions were cut short when he had to leave the field due to an injury in the 35th minute. Atalanta managed to equalize just before halftime through a penalty taken by Charles de Ketelaere, awarded after Aurelien Tchouameni fouled Sead Kolasinac.
After the break, Vinicius Jr. restored Real Madrid’s lead in the 56th minute, taking advantage of a rebound, and Jude Bellingham extended that lead shortly afterward following a swift counterattack. Ademola Lookman then pulled one back for Atalanta in the 65th minute, but Thibaut Courtois was instrumental in maintaining Madrid’s advantage, making several crucial saves in the latter part of the game.
Currently, Real Madrid sits 18th in the 36-team table with nine points, trailing behind the top eight teams who qualify directly for the last 16. Atalanta holds ninth place with 11 points.
Brahim Diaz expressed the team’s determination, stating, “We came here with confidence… This team has a lot to give still and we’re going to give much more.” He emphasized the importance of taking it one game at a time, raising hopes that the team can secure more points in their upcoming matches.
Despite a challenging start in their European title defense, this victory offers a glimpse of promise for Real Madrid moving forward. The players continue to show resilience and confidence, suggesting that brighter days may be ahead as they strive for a stronger performance in the remaining matches of the Champions League group stages. With two games left, there’s optimism that they can turn their campaign around and qualify for the knockout phase.