Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti hopes Kylian Mbappé will not be sidelined for long after the striker’s 3-2 Champions League win over Atalanta on Tuesday, but he was sidelined with an injury minutes after scoring the first goal.
Real Madrid have suffered a number of injuries this season, with several key players missing for significant time, including Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, who will be sidelined for the rest of the campaign with torn ACLs.
“Mbappé suffers a lot of stress, he doesn’t feel comfortable with his ischialis (lower pelvis),” Ancelotti said. Movistar+.
“It doesn’t seem serious, but we’ll see tomorrow after the tests. “He couldn’t run, it bothered him a little and we decided to change places,” he added.
Faced with much criticism for his poor form in his first months with Real Madrid after signing as a free agent from Paris St Germain, Mbappé still had one of his best games of the Atalanta season, scoring the first goal in the 10th minute and making . scary race.
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But his night lasted just 35 minutes as he collapsed and asked to be replaced before being replaced by Rodrygo.
Vinicius Jr, returning to the team after missing two weeks ago with a muscle injury, was close for most of the game but took advantage of the opportunity, scoring in the 56th minute to send the visitors back. first after Charles de Ketelaere equalized from a penalty before half-time.
Jude Bellingham increased Real’s lead three minutes later and, after Ademola Lookman reduced the deficit to 65, visiting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced his magic with a series of saves to secure a hard-fought victory.
With two games remaining, Real Madrid occupies 18th place in the table of 36 teams with nine points, three points away from the top eight that ensure direct qualification for the round of 16. Atalanta is ninth with 11 points.
“It is a very important victory, not everyone wins here,” Ancelotti said.
“We suffer and fight a lot, there is no Champions League without suffering. They put pressure on us, but we started well in the second half. We are very happy. It was a very good victory for us, not only for the points, but also for gaining confidence. It’s still difficult to finish in the top eight, but we have two games to score points. “We will see what happens,” he added.
