Real Madrid kept their slim hopes of automatic Champions League qualification alive with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Atalanta on Tuesday.
A dominant first-half performance saw Madrid take the lead through Kylian Mbappe, but his injury before the break shifted the game’s momentum. Atalanta capitalized on the uncertainty, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring a penalty just before halftime.
In the second half, Vinicius Junior took advantage of a fortunate deflection to put Madrid back in front, followed by Jude Bellingham’s quick strike to further extend their lead. However, Atalanta responded through Ademola Lookman, who struck a superb goal from the edge of the box to reduce the deficit.
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Atalanta gained confidence, and Lookman continued to threaten Madrid’s patched-up defense. The visitors had to hold on, with Mario Retegui missing a golden opportunity to equalize late on, volleying over from close range when it seemed easier to score.
The final whistle was a huge relief for Madrid, whose victory puts them just three points behind the automatic qualification spots, although that gap could widen depending on Wednesday’s results.