Real Madrid once again survives the European Cup precipice. With talent, with striking power, with agony... With everything that is part of the history of the White team. Mbappé, Vinicius, and Bellingham lifted the Chamartín squad to escape Bergamo's siege, where their continental future was at stake. De Ketelaere and Lookman put fear into them, but they held on.
Facing a tough situation, as Valverde acknowledged before the match, Ancelotti was decisive in his lineup. He brought in Vinicius, who had been out injured for four games, and positioned Tchouaméni as a center-back instead of Asencio. No one had won in Bergamo, everyone punished by the exhausting man-marking of Gasperini's team, so the task was challenging.
And Real Madrid did not disappoint from the start. The entry of Vinicius and Brahim gave the team bite and dribbling, crucial to overcoming the opponent's pressure, and the plan to exploit the central defenders' backs with Mbappé led to the best first 15 minutes of the Madrid season.
After a combination between Brahim and Lucas, the Andalusian looked for Mbappé at the top of the box, he beat De Roon with a single touch and beat Carnesecchi with a precise shot. The goal was a reward for Madrid's good performance and briefly silenced the crowd. But it was short-lived.
A few plays after the goal, Rodrygo started warming up on the sidelines, raising suspicions. Mbappé stopped seeking the backs of the Italian defenders, Madrid struggled to keep possession, and Atalanta began to besiege Courtois' goal. Lucas suffered especially, helpless against Lookman, the MVP of the last Europa League final.
The Bergamo team created chances, and only the interventions of Rüdiger and Tchouaméni to block shots prevented the equalizer. Lookman in the 13th minute, De Ketelaere in the 17th and 19th, Bellanova in the 20th...
On the bench, Ancelotti urged his players to stay calm, sticking to the initial plan but struggling due to Mbappé's physical issues, who eventually asked to be substituted in the 34th minute. Madrid, rushed, lost possession too quickly, and Brahim and Bellingham could no longer turn as easily. Atalanta, however, did not ease off, relentless.
Rüdiger had a good chance in the 39th minute, after a cross from Ceballos and a follow-up by Bellingham, but his shot went wide. And just before halftime, the Italians found a lifeline in a mistake by Tchouaméni. The Frenchman was not firm in stopping Kolasinac's run towards the box, making slight contact with the defender in the process. A trip that Marciniak penalized with a penalty.
De Ketelaere placed the penalty kick in the top corner past Courtois, and the hosts took a psychological goal into the break. Real Madrid, 24th in the Champions League, faced a crucial second half for their continental survival. And we know what usually happens when Real Madrid faces the European Cup precipice. They emerge victorious. Without Mbappé and with Rodrygo and Vinicius just back from muscle injuries, the White team stood tall in Bergamo. They withstood the physical and rhythmic battle proposed by Atalanta and punished the Italians' defensive boldness.
Vinicius took over from Mbappé and began challenging the central defenders' backs, resulting in a goal. Brahim attempted a through pass to the Brazilian, Hien deflected it, but the rebound hit Ederson and returned to the Madrid forward, who slotted it home with his left foot. The White team continued to grow, and in the next play, they silenced Bergamo. Vinicius dropped deep into the central lane, looked up, and saw Bellingham's run behind De Roon. Once again, the same plan. The Englishman received the ball, deceived the Dutchman with a feint, and beat the goalkeeper with his left foot.
But Gasperini lives and dies by his plan for the full 90 minutes, and Atalanta did not give up. In the 65th minute, Lookman challenged Lucas at the edge of the box and surprised Courtois with a shot to the Belgian's right post.
The goal and Madrid's fatigue, with only Rodrygo, Mbappé's replacement, coming off the bench, turned the final minutes into an Italian siege. In the 83rd minute, Ancelotti made changes. Modric and Asencio replaced Ceballos and Brahim, and the field tilted towards Courtois, but no one could beat him. Not even Retegui, with an open goal opportunity in the 94th minute. Real Madrid survives Bergamo and remains standing in the Champions League. That's their history.