Atalanta and Real Madrid, as expected, served up a cracking Champions League match on Tuesday evening.
There were superb goals from Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Ademola Lookman, as a hugely-entertaining match swung to-and-fro.
Mbappe’s superbly taken opener was cancelled out by a Charles De Ketelaere penalty, before a quickfire duo of goals from Vinicius Jr and Bellingham looked to have finished the game as a contest. But Lookman pulled one back and could even have set-up a dramatic late equaliser.
The Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan and James Horncastle assess the best of the action…
Madrid’s big hitters step up
At 1-1 and with Mbappe having limped off, things were not looking promising for Madrid. Earlier defeats to Lille, Milan and Liverpool had left the holders 24th in the new-look Champions League table coming into this game. Lose again and the shocking spectre of not even qualifying for the play-off round would loom, or at least their last two games against Salzburg and Brest would become ‘must-wins’.
Then came two quick goals in three minutes, as Madrid’s biggest stars from last season’s successful European campaign came to the fore. First the ball broke kindly for Vinicius Junior, just back from his injury absence, and the Brazilian guided the ball past Carnesecchi to make it 2-1.
Then Bellingham stamped his quality on the game, stepping inside Marten De Roon and instantly hammering a low 15-yard shot into the far corner. It was a reminder that the Englishman had returned to form after a relatively low-key start to 2024-25 – he also has five goals in his last five La Liga games.
That was soon followed by another reminder – of Madrid’s weak and injury-hit defence, when stand-in right-back Lucas Vazquez could not stop Lookman from making it 3-2. Blancos keeper Thibaut Courtois also made a host of saves to ensure his team stayed in front.
So this was far from an ideal performance, and this season’s Madrid are not a perfect team. But the Bernabeu outfit have a history of struggling through the autumn, only to hit form when it really matters in this competition. On another difficult night, their most important players did what they had to ensure that can still happen this year.
Dermot Corrigan
Joy and pain for Mbappe
It all started so well for Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe.
After just 10 minutes, the Frenchman produced maybe his finest moment since joining Los Blancos last summer. When Brahim Diaz fizzed a pass inside, Mbappe’s first touch with his left foot helped him glide past marker Isak Hien into the Atalanta penalty area. The second with his right boot rifled an unstoppable low finish past home keeper Marco Carnesecchi.
Mbappe raced off to perform his trademark arms folded knee slide celebration of his 50th goal in his 79th Champions League appearance. Only Lionel Messi has got their quicker in this competition. It seemed a sign that maybe things had now clicked for a player whose first four months in Madrid have not exactly gone to plan.
But then it went bad again.
Just past the half hour mark, Mbappe sat down on the pitch, his face glum. There was no need for close physical attention, a muscle issue – later described by Madrid as discomfort on the back of his left thigh – was clear. Soon he had walked from the pitch, and straight down the tunnel to the dressing room.
(Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
It was yet another fitness problem in what has become an injury plagued season. Mbappe already missed September’s ‘derbi’ against Atletico Madrid with a hamstring issue. Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo among colleagues to have suffered muscle strains or pulls. The issue has caused concerns among the squad, and in the club hierarchy, with fitness coach Antonio Pintus’ methods coming under scrutiny.
Another much discussed reason for all the injuries is the heavy schedule of games. Madrid play in La Liga at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday evening, then fly to Doha for next Wednesday’s Intercontinental Cup final. Mbappe looks unlikely to make either of those games now.
Dermot Corrigan
De Ketelaere looking increasingly smart business
Draped over the perspex in the Curva Morosini was one of the dust-sheets Italians like to use as banners. Spray-painted in Atalanta’s black and blue colours was a statement in English. “Football QI of CDK is beyond 200!” it declared (yes, they meant ‘IQ’).
In first half stoppage time, Charles De Ketelaere stood over the penalty spot in front of the Morosini. The banner was in his peripheral vision as he stroked Atalanta’s equaliser past his compatriot, the formidable Thibaut Courtois.
Banner in front of the goal De Ketelaere buried his penalty pic.twitter.com/HAz8rq8qpO
— James Horncastle OMRI (@JamesHorncastle) December 10, 2024
Few players have looked as awkward while simultaneously playing as silkily as De Ketelaere. It has been a tremendous week for him. His towering header in the win against AC Milan on Friday sent Atalanta top of the table in Italy. This penalty was his 16th goal in 2024. He has 16 assists too.
The Belgian continues to live 45 minutes away in Milan where he moved after the city’s eponymous club, AC Milan, bought him as a gift to themselves after their last league title in 2022. It didn’t work out for him and Milan rushed to judgement on whether he’d ever make it at San Siro. Atalanta loaned him last year and won the Europa League. They made his transfer permanent this year and might win the league.
Smart business from the smartest club in Italy.
James Horncastle
Lookman deserves more fanfare
Is Ademola Lookman still judged too much through the prism of his spells at Everton and Leicester? There should be more buzz around him. The aforementioned CDK stats are mirrored by Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final at the end of last season.
That performance, the crown jewel in a magnificent and historic year, propelled him to 14th in the Ballon d’Or list. Lookman is expected to replace Victor Osimhen as the African Player of the Year later the month. On Tuesday, not only did he score against Real Madrid, he almost set up a stoppage time winner for Mateo Retegui only for the Serie A top scorer to miss from point-blank range. And yet he does not seem to be generating the interest his displays deserve.
PSG sniffed around in the summer and he tried to force a move. To his credit, when it didn’t happen, he immediately picked up where he left off last season. The Nigerian is 27 and fulfilling his potential. He is one of the best players in Serie A. With two years left on his contract, you wonder where he lands next?
James Horncastle
What next for Real Madrid?
Saturday, December 14: Rayo Vallecano (away), La Liga, 8pm UK, 3pm ET
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(Top photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)
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