REAL MADRID are into the hat for the last-eight of the Champions League after seeing off Atalanta.
- Final score: Real Madrid 3-1 Atalanta
Follow ALL the reaction with our live blog below…
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THAT’S ALL FROM MADRID
Real Madrid made it through to the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to a comfortable 3-1 win over Atalanta at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
The visitors started strong but let themselves down after 34 minutes when goalkeeper Marco Sportiello carelessly gave the ball away to Luka Modric.
Modric then passed it to an unmarked Karim Benzema, who then opened the scoring with a cool finish.
Real came in stronger in the second half and almost scored what could have been the best Champions League goal of the season when Vinicius Junior dribbled past everyone and just missed Sportiello’s bottom left corner after an exhilarating run.
But Vinicius made up for his error soon after when Atalanta captain Rafael Toloi brought him down inside the box and forced a penalty for the hosts.
Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos took the spot-kick and doubled his team’s lead on the hour-mark.
Luis Muriel gave the visitors some hope with a stunning free-kick seven minutes before full-time.
But Marco Asensio put the tie to bed just one minute later with a smooth finish following a brilliant run by Lucas Vazquez.
That’s all from us here in Madrid, have a lovely night!
GETTY IMAGES RAMOS REACTS
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos revealed what was going through his mind before taking that crucial penalty.
Ramos said: “The objective was to pass and we did it with a good result.
“We have not had in mind the first leg, we wanted to dominate and have control. We have had the occasion to score another goal. We are happy. This is the way.
“Shooting a la Panenka is always something that is present. But it was not the ideal option today. No rival can be underestimated. I always try to wait for the goalkeeper to move. Happy to help the team with a good performance and happy to be able to dedicate this goal to mine.
“One ends up lamenting that after the great move that Vinicius has made it does not end in a goal. I would have been very happy. But the important thing is the great game he has played. Whenever it comes out, life is left “
GETTY IMAGES GASPERINI REACTS
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini wishes his team got something better but insists he has no regrets.
Gasperini said: “I absolutely would’ve made the same decisions.
“Unfortunately, the first goal, the penalty and even the goal in the first leg compromised a qualification that would’ve been tough anyway. When you gift goals like that, it becomes even tougher.
“It’s a pity, we felt that we had the possibility to do better and take the game to Real Madrid. It went down the wrong path, that was partly our own fault, and it became too difficult then.
“These experiences are always fantastic for the players, coach and club, because we are up against the best on the international stage.
“We should still be satisfied, as we eliminated Ajax and got through a group with Liverpool. We hoped that we could’ve done better in both games against Real Madrid”
GETTY IMAGES
WHO’S NEXT?
Real Madrid are through to the quarter-finals where they could be set for some interesting encounters.
Manchester City also qualified after beating Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 at the Etihad and knocking the Bundesliga outfit out with an aggregate of 4-0.
Liverpool are the second Premier League team to be waiting for Thursday’s draw after offloading RB Leipzig.
Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are through as well after eliminating Barcelona and Sevilla respectively.
Porto pose as perhaps the biggest underdogs after shocking Juventus in the Last-16.
The quarter-finals will take shape after Bayern Munich and Chelsea take on Lazio and Atletico Madrid tomorrow respectively
GETTY IMAGES VIN-TAGE
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior almost scored the best Champions League goal of the season against Atalanta.
Vinicius put together an exhilirating run from midfield and dribbled past everyone in defence before flicking a shot that just missed Marco Sportiello’s bottom left corner.
But the forward made amends soon after when he won a pernalty that captain Sergio Ramos converted on the hour-mark.
But that’s nothing new for the Brazil international
STATS
Real Madrid comfortably made it through to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Real dominated 53 per cent of possession throughout the match as Atalanta struggled for creativity.
Los Blancos produced a total of 12 shots, half of which were on target, compared to the Dea’s 13, five of which were on target.
Real found themselves inside Marco Sportiello’s box 28 times whereas the visitors knocked on Thibaut Courtois’ door 17 times without creating enough danger
FT: REAL MADRID 3-1 ATALANTA
Real Madrid qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Atalanta at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Atalanta started strong but let themselves down after 34 minutes when goalkeeper Marco Sportiello carelessly gave the ball away to Luka Modric, who passed it to an unmarked Karim Benzema who then opened the scoring with a cool finish.
Real were stronger in the second half and almost scored what could have been the best Champions League goal of the season when Vinicius Junior dribbled past everyone and just missed Sportiello’s bottom left corner.
But Vinicius made up for his error soon after when Rafael Toloi brought him down inside the box and forced a penalty for the hosts.
Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos took the spot-kick and doubled his team’s lead on the hour-mark.
Luis Muriel gave the visitors hope with a stunning free-kick seven minutes before full-time.
But Marco Asensio put the tie to bed just one minute later with a smooth finish
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME IN MADRID!!!!!
REAL MADRID 3-1 ATALANTA
90+4 Muriel gave Atalanta hope in the closing minutes of the second half…
But Asensio quickly put it to bed once and for all!
GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES
REAL MADRID 3-1 ATALANTA
90+2 CHANCE
Benzema feeds Rodrygo inside Atalanta’s box ands the forward tries a shot that is saved by Sportiello!
REAL MADRID 3-1 ATALANTA
90 Five minutes to go until full-time!
Real are set to return to the Champions League quarter-finals after two-year absence!
REAL MADRID 3-1 ATALANTA
87 CHANCE!
Malinovsky tries a powerful shot at the fringes of Real’s box but just misses the crossbar!
REAL MADRID 3-1 ATALANTA
84 Vazquez puts together an incredible run down the right flank and finds Asensio almost unmarked inside the box.
The Real star fires a beautiful shot that goes behind Sportiello’s net following a poor response by the Atalanta goalkeeper
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!
REAL SEAL IT WITH ASENSIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REAL MADRID 2-1 ATALANTA
84 SUBSTITUTION
Atalanta make a double switch as they are after a late chase.
Caldara replaces Matteo Pessina and Miranchuk takes Muriel’s place
REAL MADRID 2-1 ATALANTA
83 Can they…?
Perhaps not, but that was definitely an incredible goal by Muriel!
The Atalanta star fires a free-kick off the edge of Real’s box and burries the ball at the top left corner of Courtois, who got a touch
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
ATALANTA SCORE WITH MURIEL!!!!!!!
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
82 SUBSTITUTION
Real make another change as Asensio comes on and takes Valverde’s place
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
80 Atalanta are still after a goal, not necessarily because they believe in a late comeback…
It’s more of a matter of pride
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
78 CHANCE!
Murial tries a shot inside Real’s box but it gets deflected off Reals’ defenders.
Nothing comes off the subsequent corner-kick
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
77 YELLOW CARD
This time the referee show some sympathy for Ilicic as the Atalanta star is brought down by Kross’ tired challenge.
Poor decision from the star midfielder, who is rightfully booked
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
76 Woah, that could have been a red card right there…
Nacho gets Ilicic again but this time it is an elbow to the head of the Atalanta star.
Referee, though, didn’t seem moved…
Lucky break for Nacho there…
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
75 Ramos can’t stop making history with Real, it seems.
Here’s the latest:
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
74 YELLOW CARD
Nacho gets cautioned as he gets Ilicic’s calf with his studs.
What a poor challenge…
REAL MADRID 2-0 ATALANTA
72 Real are quite comfortable on the pitch now as Atalanta are still struggling for creativity, hard to expect them to score three goals in less than 20 minutes.
If Los Blancos go through then much will be thanks to Modric, who is only 10 games away from his 100th appearance in the Champions League
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
