In the end, Mateo Retegui could have cost Real Madrid a 3-2 win against Atalanta on Tuesday night, but Serie A’s top scorer put a golden opportunity to equalise over Thibaut Courtois’ bar in the final seconds.
Soon afterwards, still short of breath, the Madrid players celebrated a vital victory in the corner of the Gewiss Stadium where more than a thousand travelling fans had gathered.
It had been a significant evening, one where the club’s big names had given the team the win: Kylian Mbappe made it 1-0 in the 10th minute, Vinicius Junior scored the second goal in the 56th and Jude Bellingham added the eventual winner just before the hour mark.
“We played a complete game and we were effective in front of goal. I think the key was the mobility we had up front with Vinicius, Bellingham and Mbappe at the start. We had a lot of chances and although we struggled at the end, we deserved to win,” said a weary-looking Carlo Ancelotti afterwards. “Our quality was decisive in achieving the victory,” Bellingham added.
🗣️ @BellinghamJude: “Our quality was decisive in achieving the victory.”#UCL pic.twitter.com/y8Zb7GKEvW
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 11, 2024
Within hours, the front pages of some Spanish sports outlets were focusing on the trident dubbed ‘BMV’ or the ‘three tenors’.
But Tuesday’s display from Real Madrid’s stars goes beyond mere goals and front pages. It also suggests that the club’s hitherto troubled campaign can get properly back on track.
One of Tuesday’s protagonists, Vinicius, should not have played in this game in the first place.
After the Brazilian injured his left hamstring just before the Champions League match against Liverpool, Real Madrid did not expect him back until at least the Intercontinental Cup on 18 December.
But the Brazilian made a concerted effort to shorten the timetable and started the game against Atalanta without having played any minutes beforehand.
During the warm-up he was seen operating at a slower pace than his team-mates — clearly trying not to strain his body too much.
His name, along with Mbappe’s, was by far the loudest whistled by the Italians when read out by the stadium announcer. But any fears the team might be intimidated by the impressive atmosphere in Bergamo were misplaced.
Contrary to what had happened in certain other Champions League games this season, Mbappe looked very comfortable as the focal point of the attack.
Without having to drift out to the wing, Mbappe took on Atalanta’s backline and repeatedly beat them for pace. He was able to create three big chances in front of goal and one of them opened the scoring after some perfect control and an even better shot from inside the box.
It was his 50th goal in the competition and moved him level with French compatriot Thierry Henry in the all-time charts.
It was probably Mbappe’s best 35 minutes at Real, but — frustratingly — he was then forced off with an injury.
According to the club, he will undergo tests in Madrid on Wednesday for a discomfort he felt in the front of his left thigh.
“It doesn’t seem serious,” said Ancelotti after the match.
With Mbappe off the pitch, Vinicius took up the baton. And, although he was clearly not yet back to full fitness, he was suddenly all over the pitch — helping out with both defensive and playmaking duties, as his dashboard shows.
With the only chance he had, the Brazilian made it 2-0 with a perfect low left-footed shot.
And, just two minutes later he created Madrid’s third effort with a clever pass that ended in another well-worked goal after a clever run inside from Bellingham.
In Bergamo, the Englishman put in another complete performance, providing one goal, two key passes, completing five of his seven dribbles, winning nine duels and making 64 touches.
Bellingham was visible all over the pitch and has clearly returned to last season’s level.
In total, he has now scored in six games in a row, and is behind only Vinicius (13) and Mbappe (12) in the club’s scoring charts this season.
In some teams such numbers might lead to a fierce rivalry between the stars, but the three players get on well, according to sources — who wish to remain anonymous to protect relationships — who witness them on a day-to-day basis.
However what the Madrid coaching staff valued most about Tuesday’s game was the “great commitment” of the team’s stars, who defended aggressively right up until the final minutes.
The lack of effort off the ball from Real Madrid’s forwards has been a cause for concern in recent months, especially in the case of Vinicius and Mbappe.
Bellingham himself has repeatedly called for more defensive work from them both on and off the pitch.
But in Bergamo they all upped their game and for the first time in a Champions League match in this season they (narrowly) ran more than their opponents: 114.1 total kilometres to Atalanta’s 113.4.
When asked if there was now more commitment in the press conference, Ancelotti acknowledged his satisfaction: “I think the game demands a lot from you, in the end it worked out well. We’re very happy because it’s not only three points but also because we’re in good shape for Christmas, which is the key to the season.”
Despite the recent pessimism in the aftermath of defeats in the Champions League against Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool, the Champions League table is looking considerably healthier. With two games left to play, a top eight position is still achievable.
“We’re still only scratching the surface of what this team can achieve. I still think this team has many levels to go,” Bellingham said after the match on CBS.
Madrid have long known that stars like Bellingham, Mbappe or Vinicius can win you games on their own if they want to. But to get there, they have to be committed. With displays like the one against Atalanta, there is every reason to believe they will be in the months ahead.
(Header photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)
