Bellingham gives Atalanta too much to do as Real Madrid show they are back

Rumors about Real Madrid facing an early exit from the Champions League have clearly been overstated. Similarly, the idea that Kylian Mbappé doesn't fit well into Carlo Ancelotti’s team was put into question with his impressive opening goal, although his subsequent injury raises some doubts. In the end, the defending champions can breathe a sigh of relief as they fight their way back into the race for an automatic spot in the knockout stage. The lively and spirited performance from Atalanta, who were applauded even in defeat, highlighted the thrilling atmosphere of the evening.

The match concluded with Mateo Retegui missing an opportunity to score from just a few yards out, although an offside call likely saved him from embarrassment. The home team certainly deserved to build on their impressive streak of 14 games without a loss, which has been ongoing since late September. As everyone left this newly renovated stadium—Italy's most advanced yet still filled with charm—they felt they had been part of an intense match where Real pushed them to their limits. Atalanta should still secure a spot in the last 16, and as the teams departed, there was a feeling that they might face each other again soon with higher stakes involved.

Nearly four months earlier, they had met in Warsaw for the Super Cup, where the champions of Europe’s top tournaments went head-to-head. On that occasion, Mbappé made an impressive debut by scoring, and Real Madrid managed to secure a comfortable victory. Now, he was looking for that same positive energy, especially after the worry that had built up following his missed penalty at Anfield. Real Madrid also needed a boost; they are not expected to falter at this level, especially in a tournament designed to give the strongest teams an advantage. A loss here would have cast a shadow over their prospects as they headed into the new year.

The boost of optimism arrived swiftly. Following the loss to Liverpool, Ancelotti suggested that Mbappé was lacking in confidence. This seemed to be confirmed when he managed to break free in the second minute, only to have his shot saved by Marco Carnesecchi. Just days before, Mbappé had scored against Girona from a similar spot, but this was a moment when Real Madrid truly needed him to come through. On the bright side, his chances for scoring were likely to increase, as Atalanta's aggressive play opened up plenty of space for him to exploit, and soon enough, that would lead to a significant payoff.

On this occasion, Mbappé displayed the kind of confidence and skill that sets exceptional footballers apart. It all started with some impressive footwork from Brahim Díaz, who made a clever pass. However, it was Mbappé's awareness to let the ball glide past Marten de Roon that created his chance. With a clear look at the goal, he wasted no time, striking powerfully to the right of Carnesecchi for his 50th goal in the tournament.

In the 14th minute, he broke away for the third time, clearly confident as he took a shot early on. Carnesecchi made a save, and contrary to expectations, that was the end of their individual matchup. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Mbappé went down near the center circle and had to leave the field, with Rodrygo taking his place. "It's a muscular issue, and we’ll need to assess it tomorrow," Ancelotti commented. It didn't seem serious at first glance, and Real, who have already dealt with several key player absences, will certainly want to keep his recent positive momentum going.

Their advancement that night hit a snag when Aurélien Tchouaméni fouled Sead Kolasinac, resulting in a penalty for Atalanta. Despite having to make several frantic clearances without creating a real opportunity, Atalanta seized this chance. Charles De Ketelaere drove the ball past Thibaut Courtois. There was no time left to resume play before halftime, leaving Real Madrid teetering on the edge of an unexpected predicament.

They faced a challenging moment when they came back into play, with Courtois blocking a fierce attempt from the lively Ademola Lookman. However, as they typically do, they managed to regroup. A Real Madrid attack appeared to stall when Éderson, normally a reliable midfielder, accidentally set up Vinícius Júnior. Quick-witted and astute, the second-best player of the year turned and skillfully guided his shot past Carnesecchi.

Michael Olise delivered a stunning moment that capped off Bayern Munich's dominant victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, helping to secure their advancement to the knockout rounds.

Olise's outstanding run and finish during stoppage time sealed a 5-1 win for the Germans in Gelsenkirchen, where he also contributed with a penalty goal.

Kevin's early goal in the fifth minute got the home team off to an ideal start, but Konrad Laimer quickly brought the score level. Then, Thomas Müller scored his 55th goal in the competition, putting the visitors ahead at halftime. This set the scene for Olise to net two goals, with Jamal Musiala also getting on the scoreboard in between.

Goals by Gonçalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes, and substitute Désiré Doué—who scored his first in the tournament—secured a vital three points for Paris Saint-Germain in a commanding 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg.

Nordi Mukiele scored just in time to break Inter's unbeaten streak in the Champions League, leading Bayer Leverkusen to a thrilling 1-0 win at the BayArena.

Mukiele scored in the 90th minute, handing the Serie A champions their first loss in six matches of this season’s competition. This also marked the first time they had allowed a goal.

Casper Nielsen made an impact as a substitute, helping Club Brugge secure a 2-1 win at home against Sporting. The match turned in their favor after an own goal by Eduardo Quaresma allowed them a chance to get back into the game, following Geny Catamo's early goal for Sporting.

Julien Le Cardinal's goal in the first half secured a 1-0 win for Brest against PSV Eindhoven, who are currently at the top of the Eredivisie.

Real had been anticipating Vinícius to make an impact, and they were hoping for a similar spark from Jude Bellingham, who had so far contributed little aside from a volleyed cross that Antonio Rüdiger could have capitalized on. However, shortly after that, the two players teamed up to score a stunning goal. Vinícius delivered a beautiful 50-yard pass along the inside right, and as he watched his teammate skillfully maneuver inside, Bellingham calmly slotted the ball in with his left foot. At that moment, they truly seemed to hit their stride.

"Bellingham emphasized the need to focus on the basics to let the quality of the game emerge. Atalanta, the top team in Serie A who keep raising the bar, also have plenty of talent and quickly countered with Lookman’s impressive goal. This led to a thrilling last 15 minutes, with Retegui among those getting a chance to challenge Courtois. Real then began to ponder if luck was on their side once more."