Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman found the back of the net as Real Madrid clinched a crucial 3-2 away victory against Atalanta BC in a thrilling Champions League clash, marking the first time Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham scored in the same game.
This win keeps Real Madrid’s hopes alive in the league phase, elevating them to 17th in the standings with nine points from six games.
The night began with Los Blancos teetering on the brink of elimination, sitting just inside the knockout places in 24th.
However, a spirited performance saw them claim their third win of the campaign in a high-stakes encounter against Serie A’s table-toppers.
Mbappe opened the scoring early, delivering a clinical finish in the 10th minute after a sublime first touch left Marten de Roon stranded.
Despite testing Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi earlier, Mbappe was forced off with an injury later in the first half.
Atalanta leveled the score before halftime when Aurelien Tchouameni’s foul on Sead Kolasinac resulted in a penalty. Charles De Ketelaere confidently converted, firing into the top corner for his seventh Champions League goal involvement of the season.
In the second half, Real Madrid seized control with a quick double. Vinicius Junior capitalized on a deflected clearance that inadvertently set him up, displaying remarkable poise to restore Real’s lead.
Moments later, a long ball from Vini Jr found Bellingham, who skillfully sidestepped De Roon before slotting past Carnesecchi.
Atalanta fought back immediately, with Ademola Lookman beating Lucas Vazquez and squeezing a shot past Thibaut Courtois at the near post.
Despite intense pressure from the hosts and a glaring late miss by Mateo Retegui, Atalanta could not find an equalizer, ending their nine-game winning streak and suffering their first defeat since September.
The result dropped Atalanta out of the top eight, with Bayern Munich, Brest, and Aston Villa overtaking them.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s resurgence sets the stage for further drama in the remaining fixtures.
Mbappe’s early goal showcased his quality. Carnesecchi has denied him once, but he was helpless to this one, as Mbappe gives Real Madrid an early lead thanks to a fabulous first touch beyond Marten de Roon and a powerful low strike with the laces beyond the La Dea goalkeeper.
The hosts equalized through De Ketelaere. With Mbappe now off the field, Atalanta are also level! Tchouameni’s trip on Kolasinac sees Szymon Marciniak point to the spot, and De Ketelaere steps up and buries it into the top corner, racking up his seventh goal involvement in the Champions League already.
Vinicius Junior’s composure restored Real’s lead. A huge stroke of good fortune helps Real to retake the lead in Bergamo and it is Vini Jr with his first shot of the evening.
An attempt to clear ricochets off Ederson and inadvertently plays the Brazilian attacker through, and he shows fine composure to beat Carnesecchi in the Atalanta goal.
Bellingham followed up with the eventual winner: And in the blink of an eye Real double their lead! Vini Jr’s long ball in behind is latched onto by Bellingham, and Los Blancos’s number five side steps De Roon and fires beyond Carnesecchi, who may think he could have done better.
Lookman’s goal gave Atalanta hope. It is the perfect response for Atalanta! Lookman takes on Lucas Vazquez and fires towards Thibaut Courtois’s near post, catching the big Belgian out and bringing the hosts back into the game.
Bellingham, influential across the pitch, was named Man of the Match: “After going 12 games without a goal in the Champions League, Bellingham looked back to the player he was early last season, influencing play in all areas of the pitch, and his superb footwork ultimately led to the third and all-important goal for a crucial Real win.
