Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in the same match for the first time as Real Madrid secured a crucial three points by beating Atalanta BC 3-2 in the Champions League this evening.
Los Blancos started the night just inside the knockout places in 24th, after a dismal start by their lofty standards, and earned just their third win of the league phase in a very tense encounter with the Serie A leaders.
Mbappe looked lively early on, testing Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi, before giving Carlo Ancelotti's side the lead inside 10 minutes with a clinical finish, but he was then forced off with injury later in the opening period.
Aurelien Tchouameni's rash foul on Sead Kolasinac saw Atalanta equalise from the spot thanks to the in-form Charles De Ketelaere, but a quick-fire second-half double from Vini Jr and Bellingham seemed to put the game beyond Gian Piero Gasperini's men.
However, within five minutes, Ademola Lookman dragged La Dea back into the game again, making it 3-2 with over 25 minutes remaining, but despite heavy pressure on Thibaut Courtois's goal the hosts could not find a dramatic leveller late on, with Mateo Retegui missing a glaring open goal in the final minute of injury time.
That sees Atalanta's nine-game winning run come to an end, and it is also the first time since mid-September that they have suffered defeat in any competition.
Atalanta drop out of the top eight with tonight's defeat, seeing Bayern Munich, Brest and Aston Villa all overtake them, while Real Madrid are up to 17th with nine points from their six games so far, but those placing are set to change following Wednesday's fixtures.
ATALANTA VS. REAL MADRID HIGHLIGHTS
Mbappe goal vs. Atalanta (10th min, Atalanta 0-1 Real Madrid)
The touch and finish 😮💨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2024
Kylian Mbappé secures his 50th #UCL goal 🌟
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/upFb0xuzHH
Carnesecchi has denied him once, but he was helpless to this one, as Mbappe gives Real Madrid an early lead thanks to a fabulous first touch beyond Marten de Roon and a powerful low strike with the laces beyond the La Dea goalkeeper.
De Ketelaere penalty vs. Real Madrid (45+2 min, Atalanta 1-1 Real Madrid)
Charles De Ketelaere blasts Atalanta level on the stroke of half-time 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/VjDA70buyS
With Mbappe now off the field, Atalanta are also level! Tchouameni's trip on Kolasinac sees Szymon Marciniak point to the spot, and De Ketelaere steps up and buries it into the top corner, racking up his seventh goal involvement in the Champions League already.
Vini Jr goal vs. Atalanta (56th min, Atalanta 1-2 Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr is BACK 🌟
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2024
A gift from Atalanta finds his feet to take Madrid back ahead
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/jUsTxwHnGn
A huge stroke of good fortune helps Real to retake the lead in Bergamo and it is Vini Jr with his first shot of the evening. An attempt to clear ricochets off Ederson and inadvertently plays the Brazilian attacker through, and he shows fine composure to beat Carnesecchi in the Atalanta goal.
Bellingham goal vs. Atalanta (59th min, Atalanta 1-3 Real Madrid)
Bellingham brilliance 🔥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2024
Madrid have put Atalanta 'to the sword' with an air of ruthlessness ⚔️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/tlELK22PVA
And in the blink of an eye Real double their lead! Vini Jr's long ball in behind is latched onto by Bellingham, and Los Blancos's number five side-steps De Roon and fires beyond Carnesecchi, who may think he could have done better with an effort that was rather central.
Lookman goal vs. Real Madrid (65th min, Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid)
Lookman strikes again! 🔥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2024
Atalanta are back within striking distance as Lookman squeezes the ball past Courtois 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/Ei86sTxpgz
It is the perfect response for Atalanta! Lookman takes on Lucas Vazquez and fires towards Courtois's near post, catching the big Belgian out and bringing the hosts back into the game, and the Nerazzurri are keen to get play going again!
MAN OF THE MATCH - JUDE BELLINGHAM
© Imago
After going 12 games without a goal in the Champions League, Bellingham looked back to the player he was early last season, influencing play in all areas of the pitch, and his superb footwork ultimately led to the third and all-important goal for a crucial Real win.
ATALANTA VS. REAL MADRID MATCH STATS
Possession: Atalanta 55%-45% Real Madrid
Shots: Atalanta 20-10 Real Madrid
Shots on target: Atalanta 9-6 Real Madrid
Corners: Atalanta 5-2 Real Madrid
Fouls: Atalanta 15-13 Real Madrid
BEST STATS
Excluding qualifiers, Kylian Mbappé has now scored the same amount of Champions League goals as Thierry Henry (50).
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 10, 2024
Fewest games needed to score 50 Champions League goals (excluding qualifying):
◎ Ruud van Nistelrooy (62 games)
◎ Lionel Messi (66)
◎ Robert Lewandowski (77)... pic.twitter.com/JezEOTUi4h
50 - Kylian Mbappé has scored 50 goals in 79 appearances in the Champions League, becoming the second-youngest player (25 years and 356 days) to reach this figure in the competition after Lionel Messi in 2012 (24 years and 284 days). Stellar. pic.twitter.com/jWDSxTKhEr
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 10, 2024
3 - Real Madrid have committed three penalties in their first six games in the same edition of the Champions League for the first time since the 2009/10 season (three also). Penalised. pic.twitter.com/96WDUqcKDR
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 10, 2024
1 - Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham have all three scored in the same game for Real Madrid for the first time in all competitions (14 games). BMV. pic.twitter.com/P38IVRCJQX
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 10, 2024
Charles De Ketelaere has been involved in more #UCL goals in 2024/25 (7) than any other Atalanta player has in a single Champions League campaign.
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 10, 2024
◉ 3 goals
◉ 4 assists
And it's taken him just six games. 👀 pic.twitter.com/ESQr6twzwW
WHAT NEXT?
Serie A leaders Atalanta travel to Sardinia to face Cagliari on Saturday, while Real Madrid will look to overtake Barcelona at the top of La Liga for a short time at least when they make the short trip to Rayo Vallecano later the same day.
Andrew Delaney
