Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos made the difference, along with costly Atalanta errors, as the Luis Muriel free kick was not enough to avoid elimination against Real Madrid.
2020/2021 UEFA Champions League
3-1
Match Report
The first leg of the Round of 16 ended 1-0 to the Spaniards with a late goal, after Remo Freuler had been very harshly sent off just 17 minutes in. He was therefore suspended, with Hans Hateboer still injured. Real Madrid’s injury crisis was easing slightly, with Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Rodrygo back, but Dani Carvajal, Eden Hazard, Mariano Diaz, Alvaro Odriozola and banned Casemiro were still out.
Within three minutes Atalanta had their first huge opportunity, as Robin Gosens at full stretch could only prod Muriel’s cross into the arms of Thibaut Courtois from six yards.
La Dea remained very aggressive and put together a series of corners, yet were almost caught out on the counter when Berat Djimsiti used himself as a human shield on the Vinicius strike.
Marco Sportiello didn’t have a save to make, but he did gift the goal, as his terrible clearance was straight at Luka Modric, who rolled across for Benzema to fire in undisturbed from 12 yards.
Ruslan Malinovskyi blasted wide with his left foot, but just as Atalanta seemed close to a breakthrough with Muriel clear on goal and onside, the referee blew the whistle for half-time.
Duvan Zapata replaced Pasalic for the second half, and his back-heel flick was just beyond Gosens in the box, but Vinicius went on a slalom through Atalanta defenders and prodded it past Sportiello, inches wide of the far post.
Robin Gosens had to come off with a thigh injury, replaced by Josip Ilicic, but it was his misplaced pass that sparked a counter which saw Vinicius tripped just inside by box by Rafael Toloi. Sergio Ramos converted the penalty, even though Sportiello got a fingertip to it.
Matteo Pessina drilled wide after a good passing move, then Duvan Zapata turned rapidly to force a save with Thibaut Courtois’ legs.
Benzema had a huge double chance moments later, his towering header beaten away by Sportiello and the follow-up off the upright.
Duvan Zapata forced another save from Courtois, who rushed off his line to narrow the angle, but Atalanta did get a consolation goal with Muriel’s free kick curled over the wall and into the near top corner, his teammates breaking away to shield the ball as long as possible.
However, it lasted 90 seconds and Real Madrid added another goal with a rapid transition from right to left, substitute Marco Asensio beating Sportiello at the back post.
Malinovskyi hit a rocket over the bar, but those errors at the back proved costly.
Match Events
0' Players are warming up before the game
0' The match is about to start!
3' Gosens' shot too weakly
16' Djimsiti's shot too high
20' Benzema's shot blocked
27' Vinicius's shot denied
33' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Atalanta (Benzema)
38' Yellow Card! Valverde booked
42' Malinovskiy's long-shot wide out
53' Vinicius missses a golden chance
59' Penalty Goal! Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta (Ramos)
68' CLOSE! Benzema hits the post
75' Zapata misses a golden chance
76' Yellow Card! Kroos booked
82' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Atalanta (Muriel)
83' GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Atalanta (Asensio)
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Ramos, Modric, Benzema, Kroos, Courtois, Nacho, Varane, Vazquez, F Mendy, Valverde, Vinicius
Subs: Marcelo, Isco, Asensio, Militao, A. Lunin, Hugo Duro, Rodrygo, Altube
Atalanta XI: Toloi, Muriel, De Roon, Djimsiti, Sportiello, Pasalic, Malinovskiy, Pessina, Gosens, Romero, J. Mæhle
Subs: Zapata, Ilicic, Palomino, Rossi, Miranchuk, Gollini, Caldara, S. Lammers, M. Ruggeri, D. Ghislandi