Mendy, the unexpected hero of Real Madrid

A great goal from Ferland mendy, with four minutes remaining before the end of the contest against Atalanta, has given victory to the Real Madrid (0-1) in the first leg of the round of 16 Champions, a result that allows those of Zidane face with great optimism the return of next March 16 in Valdebebas. With a team decimated by casualties, the whites have prevailed thanks to a tremendous whiplash from the left side from the front of the area that has irremissibly sneaked into the Italian goal.

Mendy's shot, a precision and positioning demonstration, means the first goal of his professional career in his 20 matches played in the highest continental competition (12 with the Real Madrid and previously 8 with the Olympique de Lyon). This is the Frenchman's third target since wearing the merengue shirt: he had previously scored two in LaLiga Santander, one last campaign against grenade and another in the present in front of the Getafe.

This Wednesday, Mendy became the unexpected hero of a Real Madrid that begins to “subscribe” to 0-1, after its league victory by the same score last Saturday at the Municipal José Zorrilla against Valladolid.

Mendy was the key player of the duel at the Stadio di Bergamo, when the Swiss midfielder entered the edge of the box 17 minutes into the first half Remo Freuler, sent off with a rigorous direct red, which undoubtedly conditioned the game of an offensive team like the Atalanta.

It should also be noted that, for the fourth consecutive game, Real Madrid, left his clean sheet and Thibaut Courtois did not receive a shot from a rival who also had the misfortune of losing by a muscle injury to Colombian striker Duván Zapata, when the first half hour of play had not yet been completed.