Real Madrid avoided another early Champions League exit on Tuesday, defeating Atalanta 3–1, a 4–1 win over Aggregate and reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in three years. Sergio Ramos returned from injury by converting a penalty into the goal, continuing his scoring streak after Kareem Benzema capitalized on a blundering error from Atlanta goalkeeper Marco Sportillo. Benzema got an easy break at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium after Sportiello was caught in the first half, and after an electric start, Atlante never really recovered.
Luis Muriel drew back late for the visitors, but any hope of a comeback was quickly dashed as substitute Marco Asencio fired a triple to Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane’s side will draw for the final eight on Friday and, after fitting in with their old guard and re-firing, they will be overshadowed by La Liga’s reigning hopes.
Luka Modric said, “We showed tonight how hungry this team is.” “We can go far. Let’s see how far but today was an important step.”
Ramos played for just over an hour in his second appearance after recovering from a knee injury, while Benzema’s goal was his eighth in many games and 70th in the Champions League, making him only the fifth player to reach that number .
The 35-year-old Modric and Tony Kroos were the main ones in the absence of suspended Cassimiro.
“I think 27!” Joke funny “Years don’t matter on your passport, it’s about what you do on the pitch.”
After seeing how the Madrid giants would look against the more polished opposition, they fell short against Manchester City last year and Ajax before that, both in the last 16.
Madrid punished Atlante errors
They would not be likely to benefit from the same generosity Atalanta borne them across two legs.
Remo Freire’s red card and late goal spoiled the Italians’ night at Bergamo and led to separate errors from Pendillo and then Rafael Toloi, who again returned him to Madrid.
“We started off strong and we were succeeding with our pressure,” Muriel said. “It’s a shame because out of our two mistakes, two goals came that cut our legs from under us.”
Atalanta soon entered Madrid, due to the intensity of their press their opponents could not find the time to settle down and Robin Gossen could score, only to fail to connect with Muriel’s cross.
The hurricane arrived, Madrid found its feet as the cross began to dictate from the deep and a tireless Modric popup passed around Athenta’s midfield.
The lively Vinicius Jr. took a very long time after one-two with Benzema, who then showed the youngster how it should be done.
Sportiello’s takedown was named by Modric, whose second touch pushed the ball into the box, before the third ball went back to Benjema, who had an open net.
The goal killed Atalanta’s faith and Vinicius added a second after about half-time, only to be swept wide after Atalanta’s six-yard run to the edge of the box.
But the warning went unheeded and Vinicius ran to Toloi, whose hanging leg made enough contact to accept the penalty, which Ramos smacked in the corner.
Promoted
Ramos signaled to the bench that he was done and left shortly after, before Benzema led Lucas Vazquez’s cross at Sportiello and rebounded against the post.
Mural gave Atalan hope by curling in a superb free-kick with eight minutes remaining, but in an instant it went again, as did Assencio in a third.
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