Real Madrid revives, Kylian Mbappé scores and is injured

Real Madrid are breathing again in the Champions League, after their victory against Atalanta on Tuesday in Bergamo (2-3), but are now holding their breath for their French striker Kylian Mbappé, who was injured in the 36th minute. After two scathing defeats, at home against AC Milan (1-3) and at Liverpool (2-0), the reigning European champions returned to victory at the end of a match with a wild pace which could have very well to escape them, as they still show an unusual feverishness.

With 9 points, they are back in the race for qualification, at least for the play-offs between the teams ranked from 9th to 24th places at the end of this league phase. This will involve victories in January against Salzburg and Brest, two opponents a priori within their reach.

Mbappé reaches 50 Champions League goals

But nothing is easy for the Madrilenians at the start of the season: this victory against the leader of the Italian Championship – undefeated for three months – is marred by a new injury, that of Mbappé. His evening had started well with a first opportunity in the 2nd minute, diverted with difficulty by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.

His understanding with Brahim Diaz sparked: it was on an opening from the Moroccan midfielder that the captain of the French team opened the scoring in the 10th minute by opening the path to goal and getting rid of his defender with oriented control, followed by an almost instantaneous strike.

After his 50th goal in the Champions League, the 12th in all competitions in the Real jersey, Mbappé was very close to doubling the lead in the 14th minute. On a counterattack, the 2018 world champion outpaced the Italian defense, but his shot was deflected by Carnesecchi.

After a sparkling first quarter of an hour, Mbappé – like his team – fell into line. But in the 36th minute, the former Parisian signaled to his bench that he had to be replaced due to pain in his thigh. He was joined by two members of Real’s medical staff and after a quick discussion, left the field, without limping or being supported by Madrid’s management.

Atalanta comes close to equalizing in added time

After his exit, Real conceded the equalizer just before the end of the first period on a penalty from Charles De Ketelaere after a foul by Aurélien Tchouaméni in the penalty area (45th + 2). Returning from the locker room, while Atalanta monopolized the ball and narrowly missed taking the lead through Ademola Lookman (54th), Real took the lead again thanks to Vinicius. The Brazilian, back from injury, took advantage of an involuntary pass from Ederson to deceive Carnesecchi with a cross shot from the left (56th).

Three minutes later, the omnipresent Jude Bellingham brought the score to 1-3 after eliminating Marten De Roon with a superb hook and following up with a cross shot from the left (59th).

With this sixth goal in his last six matches, the England international thought he had stunned Atalanta, but the winners of the last Europa League – beaten by Real in August during the European Super Cup – did not give up . Lookman, who tormented Madrid captain Lucas Vazquez on the left flank, revived his team with a low strike which deceived Thibaut Courtois (65th).

With the entry into play of Mateo Retegui, top scorer in Serie A, left on the bench for tactical reasons by Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta finished better than Real. But Retegui missed the equalizer in added time (90th+3): on a cross from Lookman, he found himself alone in front of the Madrid goal, but his recovery missed the target, the epilogue of a spectacular match.