Real Madrid Survive Late Scare At Atalanta To Get Back On Track In The Champions League
Real Madrid Survive Late Scare At Atalanta To Get Back On Track In The Champions League
Real Madrid survived a late scare to beat Atalanta 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday night. An early goal from Karim Benzema proved to be enough for the Spanish giants, but they had to withstand a late onslaught from the Italian side to secure the win.
A Fast Start For Real Madrid
Real Madrid started the game brightly and took the lead after just six minutes. A sweeping move saw the ball played out to Vinicius Junior on the left, and he crossed for Benzema to tap home from close range.
The goal gave Real Madrid a deserved lead, but they were unable to build on it in the first half. Atalanta grew into the game and created a number of chances, but they were unable to find a way past Thibaut Courtois in the Real Madrid goal.
Atalanta Put Real Madrid Under Pressure
Atalanta started the second half strongly and put Real Madrid under increasing pressure. The Italian side created a number of chances, but they were unable to find a way past Courtois.
As the game entered the final stages, Atalanta threw everything at Real Madrid in search of an equalizer. However, the Spanish side defended resolutely and held on to secure a vital away win.
Courtois The Hero For Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois was the hero for Real Madrid on Wednesday night. The Belgian goalkeeper made a number of important saves, including a brilliant stop from Duvan Zapata in the second half.
Courtois' performance was all the more impressive given that he was playing in place of the injured Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican goalkeeper has been Real Madrid's first-choice goalkeeper for the past few seasons, but he is currently sidelined with a muscle injury.
A Welcome Win For Real Madrid
The win over Atalanta was a welcome one for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have been in poor form in recent weeks, and they needed a victory to get their Champions League campaign back on track.
The win also gives Real Madrid a slight advantage going into the second leg of the tie. The Spanish side will be confident of finishing the job at home in the Bernabeu.
Conclusion
Real Madrid survived a late scare to beat Atalanta 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. The Spanish giants took the lead early on through Karim Benzema, but they were made to work hard for the win by a determined Atalanta side.
The win gives Real Madrid a slight advantage going into the second leg of the tie, but they will need to be wary of a resurgent Atalanta side. The Italian side will be confident of causing an upset in the Bernabeu.
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