Real Madrid boosts qualification hopes with thrilling win
Real Madrid ended their two-game losing run in the Champions League with a fine victory over Atalanta, boosting their qualification hopes.
Real Madrid sealed a much-needed 3-2 Champions League win at Atalanta, with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham on target as Los Blancos snapped a two-game losing streak.
Madrid handed the Serie A leader its first defeat in this season's revamped Champions League, having got off to a flying start via Mbappe.
The France international fired into the bottom-left corner in the 10th minute, though he was withdrawn due to an injury 10 minutes before the break.
Charles de Ketelaere equalised with a penalty after Aurelien Tchouameni tripped Sead Kolasinac from behind on the stroke of half-time, but that parity was short-lived as Vinicius slid home on the rebound in the 56th minute.
Bellingham extended Madrid's lead by capping a counter-attack three minutes later, Ademola Lookman reducing the deficit fr the Serie A leader by curling home in the 65th minute.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois worked his magic with a string of saves in the latter stages, as Los Blancos moved up to 18th in the 36-team table on nine points, three points off the top eight. Atalanta, meanwhile, is ninth on 11 points.
