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Kylian Mbappe has scored 12 goals in 22 games for Real Madrid this season Kylian Mbappe scored his 50th Champions League goal while Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham were also on target as Real Madrid secured a much-needed win against Atalanta. The Spanish giants have struggled in Europe this year, having lost three of their five games before Tuesday's match in Italy. Consequently they needed a victory to improve their chances of progressing to the knockout stage, which they got that with this confidence-boosting display. France international Mbappe got the ball rolling with a goal in the 10th minute, breaking clear of his marker before finishing smartly. It was his 12th goal since joining Real in the summer and he should have had a second later in the first half when he charged through the middle, but his shot from outside the box was saved. However, the away side were dealt a blow nine minutes before half time when Mbappe appeared to suffer an injury and, although he was able to walk off the pitch, he was replaced by Rodrygo. Atalanta then equalised on the stroke of half time when Charles De Ketelaere scored a penalty after Sead Kolasinac went down inside the box. Real battled back after the break as Vinicius Jr found the bottom corner with a neat finish on his return from a hamstring injury before Bellingham fired home for his first goal in the Champions League this season. Ademola Lookman gave Atalanta hope with his 11th goal of the season, whipping a shot in at the near post, but Real held off late pressure to take three crucial points. The win moved Real up to 18th in the 36-team league and three points off the top eight, who qualify automatically for the knockout stage. Atalanta, meanwhile, are ninth on 11 points. Mbappe added to Real Madrid's injury concerns this season Mbappe has struggled to hit the heights he reached at Paris St-Germain since joining Real in the summer, but he looked up for this game from the outset. The forward's clever runs in behind were stretching and panicking the Atalanta defence, and his goal served as a reminder of the incredible talent he possesses. He has scored 50 goals in 79 appearances in the Champions League, becoming the second-youngest player (25 years and 356 days) to reach this figure in the competition after Lionel Messi in 2012 (24 years and 284 days). His performance made the injury he suffered all the more concerning, although Real fans will be encouraged he was able to go off unaided. They will be hoping he will not be added to an injury list that already features Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga. "Mbappe has some discomfort in his hamstrings. It doesn't seem serious but we'll see [on Wednesday], " said Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti. "He couldn't sprint, it hurt him a bit and we thought it best to replace him. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 10th December 2024 at 22: 29 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Carlo Ancelotti Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Carlo Ancelotti Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the fourth meeting between Atalanta and Real Madrid, while the Spanish side have won each of the previous three, including one already this season (2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup in August). Real Madrid lost their previous game against an Italian side (1-3 v Milan on MD4), ending a run of 11 straight wins against such opposition. They haven’t lost consecutive games against Italian opponents since a run of five in a row between February 2008 and October 2009. Atalanta are unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League this season (W3 D2), including victories in each of the last two. If they avoid defeat here, it would mark their longest ever run without defeat in the competition (six games). Real Madrid have lost three of their five matches in the UEFA Champions League this season (W2), including the last two against Milan and Liverpool. If they lose this match, it would be the first time in European Cup/Champions League history that the winners of the previous edition have had a three-game losing streak the following season. Atalanta are one of only two sides who’ve not trailed at any point in the UEFA Champions League this season, along with fellow Italian side Internazionale. Across their 472 minutes of match time in the competition this term, Atalanta have been leading for 39% and drawing for 61% of them. Real Madrid are the team who’ve been shown the most cards in the UEFA Champions League this season (18 yellows). Their current average of 3. 6 yellow cards per game is their highest in any of their 29 campaigns in the competition. Atalanta have kept a clean sheet in four of their five UEFA Champions League games this season, only conceding one goal so far. Indeed, they are team with both the fewest expected goals against (3. 1) and shots on target faced (6) in the competition this term. Kylian Mbappé has played against Atalanta on two previous occasions. In the first, he came off the bench to assist a 93rd-minute winner for Paris SG in a UEFA Champions League game (August 2020), while the most recent one was his Real Madrid debut, where scored in a 2-0 win in this season’s UEFA Super Cup. Charles De Ketelaere has been directly involved in six goals in five appearances for Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League this season (two goals, four assists). No player has ever been involved in more in a single campaign for the Italian club, with six being the joint-most, alongside Duván Zapata from 2021-22. Jude Bellingham hasn’t scored in any of his last 12 appearances in the UEFA Champions League for Real Madrid, having netted in each of his first four for the club (four goals). Bellingham has attempted 18 shots across these 12 games (2. 3 x G), but only hit the target on three occasions. Match ends, Atalanta 2, Real Madrid 3. Second Half ends, Atalanta 2, Real Madrid 3. Attempt missed. Mateo Retegui (Atalanta) right footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ademola Lookman with a cross. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta) is shown the yellow card. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card. Delay in match (Atalanta). Éderson (Atalanta) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Rodrygo (Real Madrid). Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. Foul by Nicolò Zaniolo (Atalanta). Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Atalanta. Nicolò Zaniolo replaces Matteo Ruggeri. Substitution, Real Madrid. Arda Güler replaces Jude Bellingham. Corner, Atalanta. Conceded by Thibaut Courtois. Attempt saved. Mateo Retegui (Atalanta) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lazar Samardzic. Substitution, Real Madrid. Raúl replaces Brahim Díaz. Substitution, Real Madrid. Luka Modric replaces Dani Ceballos because of an injury. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid). © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.