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As an anecdote, and being the first Spanish team to guarantee its ticket to the quarterfinals, Real Madrid has been proclaimed champion in the last four editions in which it advanced more in the Champions League than Barcelona. The last time this did not happen was in the 2002/03 season when Juventus beat Barça in the quarterfinals and Real Madrid in the semifinals.
After being eliminated in the 2018/19 (Ajax Amsterdam) and 2019/20 (Manchester City) editions, Real Madrid return to a quarter-final that they had not played since the 2017/18 edition. Turning point for whites, aware of how complicated the fight is in the domestic championship.
The changes were not worth Gasperini. Betting on two forwards after passing through the changing rooms, Atalanta has never been close to intimidating the advantage obtained by Real Madrid at the Gewiss Stadium. And in large part it is due to a splendid quarter of an hour by Vinícius Junior after the resumption of play. The Brazilian threw the team on his back and dismounted his rival in speed, generating goal situations and defensive imbalances. In that period of time, the '20' stroked the goal after a magnificent play and caused the penalty that Sergio Ramos converted to sentence the tie.
Real Madrid advance to the next round of the Champions League !! With a favorable 4-1 aggregate, the team led by Zinedine Zidane achieved the ticket to the quarterfinals after eliminating Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta. The Italians, after signing a first half hour of much wear and tear in the pressure, have not been able to leave their signature football stamp against a very competitive and serious Real Madrid. The goals of Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Marco Asensio prevented the 'Dea' from dreaming of a hypothetical pass in Valdebebas.
END OF THE GAME AT THE ALFREDO DI STÉFANO STADIUM !!!
Lucas Vázquez does not reach finishing positions. Rodrygo reaches the baseline and serves to the far post, with no luck finding a partner.
FACT. Marco Asensio has scored the third fastest goal by a substitute in this edition of the Champions League (02'19 'after starting from the bench). The first was Vinicius against Shakhtar in the first game (11 ').
RODRYGOOOOOOOOOO !! The Brazilian throws the uncheck to the back of the centrals and seeks to surprise Sportiello with a mince. The Italian goalkeeper takes it off.
FIVE MINUTES DISCOUNT !!! We will go until 95 '!!
Game seen for sentence. The 'Dea' tries to die with her boots on. Malinovskiy puts the team on his back in these moments.
Very strong shot by Ruslan Malinovskiy from mid-range that goes high.
FACT. Marco Asensio makes his debut as a scorer in this edition of the Champions League. He has needed to make 15 shots to sing his first target.
How little joy has lasted for Atalanta. After Luis Muriel's goal and the changes introduced by Gasperini, Marco Asensio converted the first action in which he participated into a goal. Sentence the eliminatory.
Lucas Vázquez signs up the assist.
MARCO ASENSIO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL !!! REAL MADRID 3-1 Atalanta. Asensio arrives and kisses the saint !! In the first touch of the Balearic in the game he hits the bottom of the tights! With Atalanta out of place, Asensio controls a pass from Lucas Vázquez and hits Sportiello with a low shot.
And he runs out of substitutions with Aleksey Miranchuk. Luis Muriel is leaving.
Double change at Atalanta. Gasperini withdraws Matteo Pessina so that Mattia Caldara enters.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL OF LUIS MURIEL !!!! Real Madrid 2-1 ATALANTA. Muriel cuts distances !! The Colombian executes a masterful direct free kick that nails into the squad. There is nothing Courtois can do to prevent it.
While Danny Makkelie measures the barrier, Zidane takes the opportunity to exhaust the quota of the changes. Enters Marco Asensio, who occupies the position left by Fede Valverde.
Dangerous foul in favor of Atalanta !! Varane knocks down Luis Muriel in the front of the area.
Final straight of the match in Valdebebas. Ten minutes remain until the end of the duel. Real Madrid's advantage in the tie is wide (3-0 aggregate).
Marco Asensio is ready to enter the playing field. It will be Zidane's next change.
Atalanta tries from a set piece. He cannot with the white defense.
Toni Kroos sees the yellow card for locking Josip Ilicic.
WHAT A STOP OF THIBAUT COURTOOOOOOOOOIS !!! In a heads-up with Duván Zapata, the Belgian opens up by making the cross and covers the space when the coffee grower shoots.
Luka Modric, both in attack and defense. The Croatian does not accuse the wear. Jump to Joakim Maehle to block the way and force the corner. Display.
Danny Makkelie admonishes Nacho Fernández for going with the iron to a ball that Ilicic had under control.
FACT. In terms of defenders, only Roberto Carlos (16) has scored more goals than Sergio Ramos (15) in the history of the Champions League for Real Madrid.
AL PALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!! In the first instance, Benzema heads a cross served by Lucas Vázquez who repels Sportiello with a stretch. On the rebound, the Frenchman tries again with his head, but his shot hits the wood.
New change in the ranks of Real Madrid. Rest for Vinícius Junior. Enter Rodrygo Goes.
COURTOOOOOOOOOOOOIS !!! What a stop shot by Duván Zapata !! The one from Cali controls a pass filtered by Ruslan Malinovskiy and, on the turn, he takes a centered shoe that the Belgian goalkeeper clears to the side.
Ruslan Malinovskiy tries his luck with an Olympic goal attempt. Thibaut Courtois stops him.
He cannot combine Duván Zapata with Josip Ilicic. Nacho Fernández crosses to send the ball out of the field.
Vinícius Junior has broken the match. Since the resumption of the match after the break, the Brazilian has brought out all his physical virtues. He's proving unstoppable for the black-blue defense.
Zidane introduces the first modification. Withdraw Sergio Ramos, who continues to add minutes into his dosing plan to regain the rhythm of the competition. Enter Éder Militao.
FACT. Sergio Ramos has scored his last 20 penalties for Real Madrid in all competitions (including the shootout against Atlético in the 2020 Super Cup).
Mazazo for the interests of the black-blue team, practically eliminated from the Champions League. You need to score three goals in the remaining half hour to advance to the round.
Third substitution in the ranks of the 'Dea'. Gasperini retires Rafael Tolói after committing the penalty. Enter José Luis Palomino in his place.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL OF SERGIO RAMOS !!! REAL MADRID 2-0 Atalanta. Ramos hits the bottom of the goal from eleven meters !! The white captain adjusts the shot to his left side to beat Sportiello.
Yellow for Rafael Tolói! The Brazilian is cautioned for the penalty committed.
PENALTY FOR REAL MADRID !!! Tolói knocks down Vinícius Junior inside the area !! The Brazilian ends up knocking down his compatriot after the slalom from the inside out. What a game of Vinícius!
Robin Gosens cannot continue due to a muscle injury. Enter Josip Ilicic instead.
Physical problems for Robin Gosens. The German claims the entry of medical assistance for discomfort in the abductor area.
Ferland Mendy rehearses the shot from the edge of the area. His shot comes out very centered. Block Sportiello without problems.
Josip Ilicic warms up in Valdebebas's band. Gasperini prepares the entrance of the Slovenian footballer.
WHAT HAS FAILED VINÍCIUUUUUUUUUUS !!! FORGIVE THE 2-0 IN VALDEBEBAS !! What a play in the race !! The Brazilian recovers in his own field, leaves after leaning on Ferland Mendy, faces Cristian Romero and sneaks between the centrals to get one-on-one with Sportiello. Almost without air, the '20' sends it out before the exit of the Italian goal.
With Zapata on the field, the defense of three Real Madrid centrals is obliged to better understand each other to set the marks. The Colombian is offering to play with his back.
Duván Zapata's heel to Robin Gosens to leave him hand in hand with Courtois. The Belgian anticipates, depriving the German of enjoying an auction situation.
FACT. Karim Benzema is the main beneficiary of Luka Modric's assists in all competitions at Real Madrid (15, Cristiano Ronaldo 13), including five of his last six. However, this is the first in the Champions League.
Tolói, on the ground. Vinícius Junior's iron on the Brazilian, who gets hurt from the action.
There are no changes in the ranks of Real Madrid. Zidane orders Eder Militao to warm up, thinking about a possible replacement by Sergio Ramos so as not to force the captain in the week of his return to the pitch.
THE SECOND TIME STARTS AT THE ALFREDO DI STÉFANO STADIUM !!!
Gasperini makes a move before play resumes. Reinforce the attack with Duván Zapata. Mario Pasalic leaves.
Nobody has made as many passes as Toni Kroos (57) in the first period played in Valdebebas. The German has only failed two deliveries, signing a 96.5% accuracy in the passes. His percentage in the opposite field is 93%.
It is the tenth season that Real Madrid has scored at least five goals in the Champions League. Only Leo Messi (13) and Cristiano Ronaldo (11) have added more seasons in the history of the Champions League, scoring at least five goals.
Maximum productivity that Real Madrid has signed in Valdebebas. He has converted the only chance between clubs that he has had throughout the first 45 minutes of play. He did not forgive a Benzema who has scored the last four goals in the merengue box.
In that sense, Karim Benzema connects five games scoring (six goals). Only between January and February 2016 did he hit a better streak: six games, with eight goals.
The Chamartín entity has found the way to the goal, precisely by applying the game proposal that Atalanta has bet on tonight. A timid pressure from Luka Modric and Karim Benzema at the exit of the ball has caused the error in the pass of Sportiello, giving away a ball that the Croatian midfielder has turned into a magnificent assist for the Frenchman to prolong his idyll with the rival goal.
Rest in Valdebebas !! Real Madrid take the path to the dressing room tunnel ahead on the scoreboard thanks to Karim Benzema's target, passed by Luka Modric. The suffocating pressure that has been carried out has been of no use to Atalanta. Although the circulation of the ball is not entirely fluid in the merengue team, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are giving some sense to the distribution and the defense of three centrals passes over a Luis Muriel who cannot win the duels . This momentary result extends the lead in the tie (2-0) for Zinedine Zidane's troop.
END OF FIRST TIME AT THE ALFREDO DI STÉFANO STADIUM !!!
Providencial Matteo Pessina in court. The Italian stops Lucas Vázquez, who progressed from the outside in until he reached the front of the area.
Varane, providential in anticipation. The Frenchman asserts his height to reach a ball that Muriel was fighting.
Ruslan Malinovskiy's Whiplash !! The Ukrainian comes out on the inside to finish with a powerful shot that goes wide.
Final straight of the first part in Valdebebas. Five minutes remain to reach the changing room tunnel. Real Madrid is in command in the tie (1-0 | aggregate 2-0).
Yellow for Fede Valverde for a foul on Berat Djimsiti. The Uruguayan is late.
Nacho Fernández, on the ground. The youth squad is injured after an aerial duel with Robin Gosens. Danny Makkelie is interested in his condition.
FACT. Karim Benzema has scored 70 goals in 126 Champions League games and is one to match Raúl González Blanco as the competition's fourth top scorer (71 goals in 142 appearances).
Curiously, the action of the Real Madrid goal is born in a timid pressure in the exit of the rival ball. The Atalante, taking his own medicine.
More advantage for Real Madrid in the tie (2-0 aggregate)! A new target from Karim Benzema gives the white team some peace of mind. He could not find his way to the goal and it was Sportiello who illuminated him after poor decision making.
Luka Modric signs up the assist.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL OF KARIM BENZEMA !!!! REAL MADRID 1-0 Atalanta. Benzema does not forgive his appointment with the goal !! Rude mistake by Sportiello, who gives a ball to Luka Modric with a bad pass. The Croatian controls, enters the area and yields to Benzema, who only has to push her to the bottom of the meshes.
FACT. Casemiro, absent due to suspension, will not be able to help Real Madrid to qualify for the quarterfinals. Real Madrid have only won one of the four games they have played this season without the Brazilian (1V 1E 2D), also losing in the last two Champions League games (0-3 against CSKA Moscow in 2018 and 2-0 against the Shakhtar Donetsk in 2020).
We reached the half hour of the game. Maximum equality. Atalanta are trying to wear down Real Madrid, which opts for long possessions to rest with the ball in their possession (0-0 | aggregate 1-0).
Benzema against the world !! The Frenchman comes out gracefully from the entrances of up to three players from the 'Dea' and stretches the team out of his half of the field.
The Atalanta lowers its intensity one point. Real Madrid appreciates it, which is taking a necessary break.
VINÍCIUUUUUUUUUUUUUS !!!! The Brazilian is measured in the race with Berat Djimsiti, throws the wall with Benzema and tries his luck with a shot that hits the body of the Swiss-Albanian.
FACT. Real Madrid have qualified the seven times that they brought home a 0-1 away from home in the first match of a tie in any European competition (three in the UEFA Cup and four in the old European Cup). The last time in this competition was against Górnik Zabrze in the 1988/89 round of 16 when they beat the Bernabeú in the second leg 3-2
The proposal of Atalanta does not favor that the white game is fluid, which practically leaves Courtois as the only player who they are not going to pressure. The touch of the Belgian is not so precise as to skip lines.
The mobility with the ball of the Chamartín team is not entirely fluid. Except for Luka Modric or Toni Kroos, who are the ones who are giving criteria in the elaboration, it costs Real Madrid a world to move the ball towards the last third of the field.
Despite the fact that the 'Dea' does not finish having clear goal situations, the tireless work that is being done when it comes to going to the pressure is reflecting certain deficiencies of Real Madrid in the circulation.
The exchange of prominence with the ball is happening with the passing of the minutes. There is no clear dominator.
FACT. Atalanta puts their eleven youngest starter in their entire history in the Champions League in the fray tonight: 27 years and 49 days.
Great pressure from Robin Gosens going to pressure and forcing Courtois' error. The Belgian, with no passing options, decides to send the ball out for the team to reposition itself.
Robin Gosens Clearance! Vinícius Junior appears for the first time exploiting his speed. The Brazilian takes Joakim Maehle to dance in the heads-up position and reaches the baseline to place a tempered center towards the far post that Lucas Vázquez cannot head.
Real Madrid cannot get out of his half of the field. Once he gets over it, Atalanta has little trouble getting the ball back.
Berat Djimsiti tries! The Swiss-Albanian, after failing to finish off the corner kick in the first instance, finished with a high shot.
First quarter of an hour in Valdebebas. A warning from Gosens in the first minutes of the game puts Real Madrid on notice (0-0 | aggregate 1-0).
Sergio Ramos crosses the path of Mario Pasalic to send the ball to a corner. The Croatian entered the area at speed to meet Courtois.
FACT. Atalanta is the Serie A team with the most recoveries in a compromised situation (298), the one that finishes the most thanks to this type of robbery (48) and the one that scores the most goals in this way (seven, along with Napoli).
In that sense, the Italian team is going with great intensity to divided actions, reacting quickly when it comes to wanting to recover the leather.
With the ball, Atalanta is not getting a good feeling. He hurts his rival when he goes to the pressure but he cannot elaborate with criteria.
Real Madrid's possession percentage is close to 60%.
The Chamartín entity is trying to make long circulations to slow down the game.
Great defensive action by Rafael Tolói, recovering the ball up front when Vinícius tried to overflow with a dribble. The captain does not commit a fault.
The 'Dea' turns the field towards the goal of Thibaut Courtois. Very intense start of Gasperini's troops.
FACT. Real Madrid did not draw such a veteran starting eleven in a Champions League tie since they beat Liverpool in Kiev the title in 2018 (29 years and 108 days). The median age of tonight's lineup is 29 years and 86 days.
Verbal warning from Makkelie to Marten de Roon for a tough tackle on Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan recovers.
First chance for Atalanta! The loss of the ball by Real Madrid at the start encourages the negriazul team to take three touches in the rival area. Muriel tempers her at the near post for the entry of Gosens, whose contact with the ball does not surprise Courtois.
At Atalanta, Gasperini proposes individual brands when it comes to going under pressure. The placement of four pieces in the center of the field means that the Italian team can bet on going to bite their rival.
As was assumed in the previous one, Zidane bets on a defense composed of three centrals to give flight to Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vázquez for the lanes. Modric takes the position of Casemiro, with Kroos and Fede Valverde as squires.
THE GAME STARTS AT THE ALFREDO DI STÉFANO STADIUM !!! Muriel puts the ball in play now !!
We already have both teams on the pitch! This is about to go! Are you going to miss it?
The referee Danny Makkelie, assisted in the bands by his compatriots Hessel Steegstra and Mario Diks, will be in charge of delivering justice. The Dutchman, an international referee since 2011, has accumulated more than 80 matches in UEFA competition as experience. He will be assisted at the VAR by Kevin Blom.
After the knee injury, Sergio Ramos returns to lead the white defense. The merengue team has lost five of the last six knockout phase matches they have played in the Champions League without him. Real Madrid were eliminated in the round of 16 of 2019/20 (against Manchester City) and 2018/19 (against Ajax Amsterdam), qualifying rounds in which the captain did not participate in the second leg matches.
Luis Muriel scored the winning goal in Atalanta's final UEFA Champions League away game, scoring in the 85th minute against Ajax in December. However, the Colombian has not scored in any of the previous three matches in his career against Real Madrid.
After being a substitute against Elche, Marco Asensio returns to the title. The Spaniard has not yet scored in this edition of the Champions League despite having tried his luck with 14 shots in six games. He is the footballer who finishes the most without scoring of those who remain in the competition.
Toni Kroos reaches 100 titles in the UEFA Champions League tonight, becoming the second outfield player of German origin to reach 100 in this competition after Philipp Lahm (110).
Real Madrid have not won in their last four home games in the Champions League round of 16 (1E 3D), including losses in the last two (to Ajax in 2018-19 and Man City in 2019-20). Never before have they lost three consecutive home games in the European Cup / UEFA Champions League round of 16.
The 'Dea' has not yet conceded away goals in this edition of the Champions League. In fact, heading into the round of 16, only Pep Guardiola's team (1) have received fewer shots on goal per away game than the team led by Gasperini (1.7).
The meringues have been victorious in 11 of the last 12 matches against Italian rivals in the Champions League, scoring at least two goals in ten of those matches. The last Italian team to prevent Real Madrid from scoring was Juventus, in November 2008.
The visit to Valdebebas is the second time that Atalanta have faced Spanish rivals away from home in European competition. Their previous match came in this same Champions League round last season, winning 3-4 away in Valencia in the second leg of the round of 16 (8-4 on aggregate of the tie).
With an advantage in the tie after winning in Bergamo (0-1, with a goal from Ferland Mendy), Real Madrid are looking to expand their statistics. They have progressed through eight of their last nine Champions League ties in which they won the first leg away from home. However, the only time they were eliminated in this streak was in this same round in the 2018/19 edition against Ajax, after a 1-4 defeat in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
DUVAN ZAPATA OR JOSIP ILICIC DOES NOT PLAY !!! Gasperini bets solely on Muriel at the tip of the spear, reinforcing the midfield with four footballers. The bands, as at Gewiss Stadium are for Gosens and Maehle.
DEFENSE OF FIVE TO DEFEND THE ADVANTAGE ON THE SCOREBOARD !!! Faced with Casemiro's loss due to suspension, Zidane bets on three center-backs and two long lanes. Fede Valverde reinforces the center of the field and Vinícius Junior wins the position to Marco Asensio.
For his part, Gian Piero Gasperini comes out with the following eleven players (5-2-2-1): Marco Sportiello – Joakim Maehle, Rafael Tolói, Cristian Romero, Berat Djimsiti, Robin Gosens – Marten de Roon, Matteo Pessina – Ruslan Malinovskyi , Mario Pasalic – Luis Muriel.
We already have the initial eleven confirmed !! Zinedine Zidane puts the following line-up into the fray (5-3-2): Thibaut Courtois – Lucas Vázquez, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Nacho Fernández, Ferland Mendy – Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Fede Valverde – Karim Benzema and Vinícius Junior.
It is the message that Gian Pero Gasperini is transmitting to his troops, wanting to subtract beats from the game and looking for the best version of footballers who, without ties, perform better and can deploy their vertical football. The 'Dea' arrives in Madrid after beating Spezia during the weekend, which has strengthened the morale after the blow suffered in the league duel against the current leaders of Serie A (1-0 against Inter Milan).
Aware of the role of favorite and the advantage that their rival manages, the black-blue team appears at the Alfredo di Stéfano with nothing to lose. Advancing round is a reward for a team that is cementing its present, but also its future, getting people used to seeing its name in the panorama of the best teams in Europe.
After the scare in Valdebebas against Elche and the draws against Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid, the Chamartín entity cannot be carried away by overconfidence if it wants to guarantee its presence in the quarterfinals. He remains undefeated in the last eight official matches but Zidane's team shows problems in the last third of the field that must be resolved as soon as possible.
It is up to Zidane's team to administer that valuable Mendy target obtained at the Gewiss Stadium. With more experience than its rival in this competition, Real Madrid must contain the impudence and courage of the black-blue team, aware that it has and can let go more than it did in the first leg.
A place for the quarterfinals of the Champions League, at stake at the Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium. The white team defends at home an income of one goal after winning the first leg in Bergamo (0-1). Marked by the early expulsion of Remo Freuler with a direct red card and a crushing dominance with the ball by the visitors, Ferland Mendy was able to put the merengue team ahead with a target in the final stretch of the match.
Good night Everybody! Welcome to the broadcast of this match between Real Madrid Club de Fútbol and Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, corresponding to the second leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. We start with the preview of the meeting (9:00 p.m.)!