Real Madrid claimed a much-needed 3-2 Champions League win over Atalanta on Tuesday thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, as the defending champions snapped a two-game losing streak in the competition.
Real handed the Serie A leaders their first defeat in this season’s renewed Champions League after Mbappe gave them the lead with a shot from inside the penalty area in the 10th minute before he had to leave the pitch with an injury.
Charles de Ketelaere equalized with a penalty after Aurelien Tchouameni tripped Sead Kolasinac from behind just before the break, but Vinicius Jr found the net in the 56th minute to put the visitors back in front.
Bellingham extended the lead on a counter-attack three minutes later, but Ademola Lookman reduced the deficit in the 65th minute before Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois worked his magic with a series of saves to secure a hard-fought victory.
With two games remaining, Real are 18th in the 36-team table with nine points, three points off the top eight spots that guarantee direct passage into the last 16. Atalanta is ninth with 11 points.
