Rumours of Real Madrid’s Champions League demise had, it turns out, been exaggerated. So had suggestions Kylian Mbappé makes a poor fit for Carlo Ancelotti’s side if an emphatic opening goal is anything to go by, although his later departure with an injury means the question marks will linger. More than anything else this was a pulsating affair that swung in numerous directions and ended with the feeling these sides may meet again with more at stake. Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham sealed a win that hauls Real back into contention for an automatic knockout place but Atalanta, who replied through a Charles De Ketelaere penalty and Ademola Lookman, would have deserved a point and will not feel distraught at a first defeat in two and a half months.
The makings of a league phase classic were present from the outset; it was the kind of match-up that might deal this tournament’s new iteration an extra shot of credibility. Real were not supposed to have found things so difficult in a format that makes failure unthinkable. By contrast things had been coming easily to their hosts, leaders of Serie A who had clocked up a run of 12 wins and two draws since late September. Atalanta are the provincial club that could: Europa League champions who show no sign of considering that once-impossible feat to be their ceiling.
It turned out Mbappé was unmoved by thoughts of a new order. His patchy form has been the subject of intense debate, a missed penalty at Anfield hardly helping and leading Ancelotti to put forward a lack of confidence as one explanation. Within two minutes he found space on the right side of the penalty area and it was tempting to trust his manager’s judgment when Marco Carnesecchi was allowed to save.
Mbappé had scored against Girona from a similar position at the weekend. He looked tuned-in here, eyes aglow at the space in behind. When his second opportunity arrived it was executed with the ease and aplomb that mark football’s extraterrestrials. It stemmed from deft footwork by Brahim Díaz, coupled with a cute pass, but the presence of mind to let the ball run across Marten de Roon was what wrought Mbappé the opening. Now he had a sight of goal addressed it in a flash, firing unstoppably to Carnesecchi’s right and reigniting Real’s hopes of an easier ride.
In the 14th minute Mbappé streaked clear yet again and, self-belief not an issue anymore, shot early. Carnesecchi beat his effort away and it felt the night’s headline duel had been set. Yet a little over 20 minutes later Mbappé’s race had been run: he sat down beside the centre circle, having seemingly hurt his right foot, and walked off to be replaced by Rodrygo.
Had he already done enough? Atalanta had threatened without fashioning a clear chance, seeing Antonio Rudiger and Aurélian Tchouaméni produce last-ditch blocks. Rudiger, in particular, distracted De Ketelaere sufficiently to let Thibaut Courtois save. There had been no faulting their intent but an equaliser hardly seemed inevitable as the interval neared.
Then Sead Kolasinac, typically rumbustious, burst into the box and fell under Tchouaméni’s attention. The defender made enough contact before the Bosnian clipped his own heel. De Ketelaere was not minded to debate anything: the spot kick was thrashed past Courtois and Real were in trouble again.
They needed more from Bellingham, who had been peripheral beyond a volleyed cross Rüdiger might have converted, and would get it soon enough. First there was a storm to weather: Atalanta, facing a buoyant Curva Nord, had the wind in their sails. De Ketelaere headed wide and then Lookman, in a moment that foreshadowed his later involvement, forced Courtois to parry at his near post.
Real looked blunted by Mbappe’s exit. Chances had dried up before the otherwise excellent Ederson, inadvertently playing Atalanta into trouble after a Real move seemed to have broken down, gave Vinicius his first sniff of the night. It was converted coolly, clipped low to Carnesecchi’s left, and Real had seemingly rediscovered their time-honoured ability to emerge from a sticky spot.
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That sense was quickly heightened. Bellingham had plenty to do when sent one-on-one with Isak Hein along the inside-right channel and, shown inside, would have to beat Carnesecchi with his left foot. He duly obliged with a low, curving shot that appeared to have garnished Real’s night.
Atalanta so rarely find themselves in this territory and swiftly mustered a response. Moments after Raoul Bellanova livened them up by demanding a save of Courtois from 20 yards, Lookman tricked inside and this time drilled into the corner. Lookman had scored a late winner against AC Milan here on Friday; his side never go quietly into the night.
Chances came and went at both ends. Atalanta piled on the pressure, the last of their openings coming when Mateo Retegui volleyed over from point-blank range at the death. They were cheered off but Real had come good when it mattered once again.
