Carlo Ancelotti praised Kylian Mbappé’s contribution during Real Madrid’s narrow 3-2 victory over Atalanta in the Champions League, although he acknowledged that the French forward was not at full fitness.
In a critical match for the reigning champions, Real Madrid secured their first victory in the revamped Champions League after suffering two consecutive losses. The match kicked off with Mbappé scoring an opening goal in the 10th minute, but unfortunately, he had to leave the pitch due to an injury shortly after.
Atalanta, who had been performing well throughout the tournament, struck back with a penalty from Charles de Ketelaere just before halftime after a foul by Aurelien Tchouameni. However, Real Madrid regained the lead in the 56th minute when Vinicius Junior capitalized on a rebound, and Jude Bellingham extended the advantage just three minutes later. Despite Ademola Lookman narrowing the gap for Atalanta in the 65th minute, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made several key saves to preserve the victory.
This win places Real Madrid in 18th position in the 36-team table with nine points, still vying for a spot in the knockout stages. With two games remaining, the team hopes to secure a higher ranking as they aim to qualify for the last 16. Brahim Diaz expressed optimism about the team’s potential, emphasizing the importance of taking it one game at a time, with a possible total of 15 points by the end of the group stage.
Despite their recent struggles defending their European title — having lost three of their last four matches — there are signs of resurgence for the team, especially with the determination shown by players like Vinicius, Bellingham, and the resilience of Courtois in goal.
The team and its fans can feel hopeful as they look to build on this performance, with the prospect of turning their European campaign around in the remaining matches. This win could spark a much-needed momentum shift as they strive for success in the Champions League once again.