Real Madrid secured a vital 2-3 victory in their visit to Atalanta, keeping their Champions League aspirations alive. While the win doesn't guarantee anything, it provides a much-needed boost for the Madrid side, who have had a rocky start to the European tournament. Carlo Ancelotti's team currently sits near the bottom of the standings in 18th place with only 9 points, following back-to-back defeats to Milan and Liverpool.

The match against the Italian side was pivotal not only for the three points but also because it marked Atalanta's first defeat in the group stage. The Serie A leaders had been unbeaten up until that point. Despite the positive aspects of the game, including goals from Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham, the victory was bittersweet, as French forward Mbappé picked up another injury that could further complicate the Blancos' situation.

With the new format in the Champions League, the top eight teams in the standings will advance directly to the knockout round, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will face off in a "play-in" to determine the remaining eight qualifiers. The bottom eight teams will be eliminated. Currently, Real Madrid is three points behind the direct qualification zone, sitting in 18th place with 9 points, while Bayern Munich, in 8th place, has 12 points and a much better goal difference.

Carlo Ancelotti is aware of the difficulty in securing one of the top eight spots but remains hopeful that his team can finish strong and secure a better position. “We have three matches left to qualify, and although it’s tough to be among the top eight, I have great confidence in my players. The goal is to finish this great year in the best possible way,” said the Italian manager after the victory.

Meanwhile, Federico Valverde also acknowledged the challenging situation but emphasized the importance of hard work. “We’re not used to being in this situation. It’s tough, but it’s part of football, and we need to keep fighting,” said the Uruguayan midfielder.

To secure direct qualification, Real Madrid needs to win their next two crucial matches: first, they will host Red Bull Salzburg on January 22 at the Santiago Bernabéu, and a week later, they will travel to France to face Stade Brestois. However, in addition to their own results, the Madrid side will need other teams like Milan, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Lille, Sporting Lisbon, Monaco, Arsenal, and Atalanta to slip up in order to secure one of the top eight spots.

While direct qualification seems difficult, Real Madrid still has a chance to stay alive in the competition through the play-in stage, where they could fight for a spot in the knockout rounds. As the final group stage matches approach, Ancelotti's team knows the margin for error is slim, but hope and hard work will be key to salvaging a campaign that, so far, has not gone as expected in Europe's top competition.