Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, weathering an early storm from an aggressive Atalanta side before dispatching them with a clinical 3-1 victory (4-1 on aggregate). The match was a classic tale of youthful energy versus seasoned experience, with Madrid's composure and lethal finishing ultimately proving decisive.
Atalanta, true to their high-octane style, started the game on the front foot, pressing relentlessly and making the Spanish giants uncomfortable. They looked to disrupt Madrid's rhythm and force a mistake, but the home side, led by the veteran presences of Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos, refused to panic.
The turning point came in the 34th minute, courtesy of a costly error from the visitors. Atalanta's goalkeeper Marco Sportiello made a poor clearance that fell directly to Luka Modrić. The Croatian playmaker surged forward before unselfishly squaring the ball to Karim Benzema, who made no mistake, slotting it home to give Madrid a crucial lead against the run of play.
The second half saw Madrid assert more control. Their lead was doubled on the hour mark when Vinícius Júnior, who had been a constant threat with his blistering pace, was brought down in the box. Captain Sergio Ramos stepped up and confidently converted the penalty to put the tie firmly beyond Atalanta's reach.
The Italian side, to their credit, never gave up and were rewarded with a stunning consolation goal in the 83rd minute. Luis Muriel curled a spectacular free-kick over the wall and past Thibaut Courtois, giving their traveling fans a moment to cheer.
However, any faint hope of a dramatic comeback was extinguished just a minute later. Substitute Marco Asensio, with one of his first touches, fired a powerful low shot that squirmed under the keeper, restoring Madrid's two-goal advantage on the night and sealing their passage to the next round.
In the end, it was a professional performance from Real Madrid, who absorbed the pressure and punished their opponent's mistakes, proving once again why they are masters of this competition.
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