• REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - Courtois 7. Busy first half as Atalanta went for it, but calmer second. Saved with his legs from Zapata after 67 minutes and again with his feet from the same player after 75. Beaten after 82 by a stunning Muriel free kick. Getty
    REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - Courtois 7. Busy first half as Atalanta went for it, but calmer second. Saved with his legs from Zapata after 67 minutes and again with his feet from the same player after 75. Beaten after 82 by a stunning Muriel free kick. Getty
  • Nacho Fernandez 8 - Under pressure against a better organised team in the first half. Rapid and made key tackles down the right. He can mix it and he was booked for it. AFP
    Nacho Fernandez 8 - Under pressure against a better organised team in the first half. Rapid and made key tackles down the right. He can mix it and he was booked for it. AFP
  • Sergio Ramos 7 - The four-time European Cup winner is back and he captained his side to a first quarter final appearance in three years, scoring the second goal which put the tie beyond the Italians. Came off two minutes later after 63, his work done. Hugged teammates as they left the field after the win. Reuters
    Sergio Ramos 7 - The four-time European Cup winner is back and he captained his side to a first quarter final appearance in three years, scoring the second goal which put the tie beyond the Italians. Came off two minutes later after 63, his work done. Hugged teammates as they left the field after the win. Reuters
  • Raphael Varane 7 - Busy night as Atalanta’s attacks came down the left. When confident, he’s a top-class defender with everything – height, speed, skill. He didn’t look confident against the Italians in the first half, but steadied like his team in the second. Getty
    Raphael Varane 7 - Busy night as Atalanta’s attacks came down the left. When confident, he’s a top-class defender with everything – height, speed, skill. He didn’t look confident against the Italians in the first half, but steadied like his team in the second. Getty
  • Ferland Mendy 7 - Nice touches and key passes forward in midfield against an Atalanta team who’d won their previous five European away games and looked the more together side in the first half. EPA
    Ferland Mendy 7 - Nice touches and key passes forward in midfield against an Atalanta team who’d won their previous five European away games and looked the more together side in the first half. EPA
  • Toni Kroos 8 - Became the second German outfield player to start 100 Champions League games and one of five players over 30 in the side as Madrid looked to their veterans to get them through. More involved than any player on the pitch and matches Vinicius for dribbles. Rightly booked for a challenge on Ilicic. Getty
    Toni Kroos 8 - Became the second German outfield player to start 100 Champions League games and one of five players over 30 in the side as Madrid looked to their veterans to get them through. More involved than any player on the pitch and matches Vinicius for dribbles. Rightly booked for a challenge on Ilicic. Getty
  • Luka Modric 8 - Got back to stop his compatriot Pasalic, then took advantage of a poor clearance to calmly set up Benzema for the opener. Still doing it at 35, still has the confidence to run back towards his goal with the ball, then turn and play the ball forward with two attackers closing him down. EPA
    Luka Modric 8 - Got back to stop his compatriot Pasalic, then took advantage of a poor clearance to calmly set up Benzema for the opener. Still doing it at 35, still has the confidence to run back towards his goal with the ball, then turn and play the ball forward with two attackers closing him down. EPA
  • Lucas Vazquez 7 - Another rapid Madrid player who was effective running at players with the ball. Celebrated Ramos’ penalty with his captain with a curious celebration. EPA
    Lucas Vazquez 7 - Another rapid Madrid player who was effective running at players with the ball. Celebrated Ramos’ penalty with his captain with a curious celebration. EPA
  • Federico Valverde 7 - Played wide right rather than in the role of the suspended Casemiro, whom he replaced. Highest passing accuracy on the field. Booked. AFP
    Federico Valverde 7 - Played wide right rather than in the role of the suspended Casemiro, whom he replaced. Highest passing accuracy on the field. Booked. AFP
  • Karim Benzema 9 - Early shot blocked, then set up Vinicius. The Madrid stalwart then tapped in the opening goal after a goalkeeper error on 34. It was his 21st goal of the season. Madrid’s second top scorer had 6. Saw a header pushed on to the post after 67 and set up Asensio for the fourth in time added on. Getty
    Karim Benzema 9 - Early shot blocked, then set up Vinicius. The Madrid stalwart then tapped in the opening goal after a goalkeeper error on 34. It was his 21st goal of the season. Madrid’s second top scorer had 6. Saw a header pushed on to the post after 67 and set up Asensio for the fourth in time added on. Getty
  • Vinicius Junior 8 - Wide left and preferred to Isco. Used his pace to run at and beat defenders, before combining with Benzema after 27, but ran into the wall. Created the most spectacular move of the game running from his own 18 yard box, combining with Mendy before shooting wide when he seemed set to score. Won a penalty after another one of those runs when he was fouled entering the area. Getty
    Vinicius Junior 8 - Wide left and preferred to Isco. Used his pace to run at and beat defenders, before combining with Benzema after 27, but ran into the wall. Created the most spectacular move of the game running from his own 18 yard box, combining with Mendy before shooting wide when he seemed set to score. Won a penalty after another one of those runs when he was fouled entering the area. Getty
  • SUBS: Eder Militao 6 - On for Ramos after 64. Neat ball into the box for Benzema. Getty
    SUBS: Eder Militao 6 - On for Ramos after 64. Neat ball into the box for Benzema. Getty
  • Rodrygo Silva 6 - On for Vinicius Jr after 68. The Brazilian, 20, went wide. EPA
    Rodrygo Silva 6 - On for Vinicius Jr after 68. The Brazilian, 20, went wide. EPA
  • Marco Asensio 7 - On for Valverde after 81. Might have been surprised not to start but made an immediate impact with the third goal, firing into the bottom left corner to make it 4-1 on aggregate. AP
    Marco Asensio 7 - On for Valverde after 81. Might have been surprised not to start but made an immediate impact with the third goal, firing into the bottom left corner to make it 4-1 on aggregate. AP
  • ATALANTA RATINGS: Marco Sportiello - 4, Made a stupid mistake that handed Real Madrid the opener, passing the ball straight to Modric. Couldn’t save Ramos’ penalty despite getting a hand to it. Good save to deny Benzema but was beaten at the near post for the home side’s third.
    ATALANTA RATINGS: Marco Sportiello - 4, Made a stupid mistake that handed Real Madrid the opener, passing the ball straight to Modric. Couldn’t save Ramos’ penalty despite getting a hand to it. Good save to deny Benzema but was beaten at the near post for the home side’s third.
  • Rafael Toloi - 5, Struggled when fleet-footed attackers got at him and was booked when he gave away a penalty by fouling Vinicius. AP
    Rafael Toloi - 5, Struggled when fleet-footed attackers got at him and was booked when he gave away a penalty by fouling Vinicius. AP
  • Cristian Romero - 6, Was dominant for periods, as Vazquez noticed after a strong tackle. Was completely outfoxed by Vinicius before the Brazilian missed and some will argue he should have shown Modric wide for the opener. Getty
    Cristian Romero - 6, Was dominant for periods, as Vazquez noticed after a strong tackle. Was completely outfoxed by Vinicius before the Brazilian missed and some will argue he should have shown Modric wide for the opener. Getty
  • Berat Djimsiti - 7, Was persistent in his defending, getting a good block in to deny Vinicius. Also looked alive when the ball went into the box for attacking set-pieces and gave a good account of himself even when moved around the pitch. AFP
    Berat Djimsiti - 7, Was persistent in his defending, getting a good block in to deny Vinicius. Also looked alive when the ball went into the box for attacking set-pieces and gave a good account of himself even when moved around the pitch. AFP
  • Joakim Maehle - 5, Anonymous for periods of the game and there were times the right-wing-back was really clumsy in his defending – with one incident allowing Vinicius to easily drift past him. Did get a decent shot off from range. Getty
    Joakim Maehle - 5, Anonymous for periods of the game and there were times the right-wing-back was really clumsy in his defending – with one incident allowing Vinicius to easily drift past him. Did get a decent shot off from range. Getty
  • Marten de Roon - 6, Made good covering runs to prevent danger from unfolding at times. A few of his passes were a little bit off, but it was a fairly solid performance overall. Getty
    Marten de Roon - 6, Made good covering runs to prevent danger from unfolding at times. A few of his passes were a little bit off, but it was a fairly solid performance overall. Getty
  • Matteo Pessina - 7, Held his own defensively and moved the ball around well. Arguably the Atalanta player who looked the most likely to carve out a chance in the second half. Reuters
    Matteo Pessina - 7, Held his own defensively and moved the ball around well. Arguably the Atalanta player who looked the most likely to carve out a chance in the second half. Reuters
  • Robin Gosens - 6, Should have done better with an early chance, but made some important defensive contributions, heading the ball away at the back post to deny a good goalscoring opportunity. Getty
    Robin Gosens - 6, Should have done better with an early chance, but made some important defensive contributions, heading the ball away at the back post to deny a good goalscoring opportunity. Getty
  • Ruslan Malinovskyi - 7, Making his first Champions League start of the season but got involved immediately. He often struggled to add the quality to his ideas, but carved out an opportunity for Duvan Zapata with a great pass. Reuters
    Ruslan Malinovskyi - 7, Making his first Champions League start of the season but got involved immediately. He often struggled to add the quality to his ideas, but carved out an opportunity for Duvan Zapata with a great pass. Reuters
  • Luis Muriel - 8, Was smart in his hold up play and runs when the ball came his way, but Atalanta struggled to get him into the game in the first half. Created some good chances in the second period and ended up scoring a great free-kick. Reuters
    Luis Muriel - 8, Was smart in his hold up play and runs when the ball came his way, but Atalanta struggled to get him into the game in the first half. Created some good chances in the second period and ended up scoring a great free-kick. Reuters
  • Mario Pasalic - 5, Came into this off the back of a brace against Spezia, and that confidence showed with an early nutmeg on Valverde. However, he faded out of the game quickly. AFP
    Mario Pasalic - 5, Came into this off the back of a brace against Spezia, and that confidence showed with an early nutmeg on Valverde. However, he faded out of the game quickly. AFP
  • SUBS: Duvan Zapata (Pasalic HT) - 6, Came close to setting up Gosens but overhit his flicked pass. Caused a threat but smashed his two best chances straight at Courtois. EPA
    SUBS: Duvan Zapata (Pasalic HT) - 6, Came close to setting up Gosens but overhit his flicked pass. Caused a threat but smashed his two best chances straight at Courtois. EPA
  • Josip Ilicic (Gosens 57’) - 5, Had a very slow start after coming on as his wayward pass started the move that ended in a Real Madrid penalty. He did improve as time went on and created some decent chances. AFP
    Josip Ilicic (Gosens 57’) - 5, Had a very slow start after coming on as his wayward pass started the move that ended in a Real Madrid penalty. He did improve as time went on and created some decent chances. AFP
  • Jose Luis Palomino (Toloi 61’) - 5, Came in at the heart of the defence and should have done more to slow Real Madrid down in the build-up to the home side’s third of the game. Reuters
    Jose Luis Palomino (Toloi 61’) - 5, Came in at the heart of the defence and should have done more to slow Real Madrid down in the build-up to the home side’s third of the game. Reuters
  • Mattia Caldara (Pessina 84’) – N/R, He wasn’t necessarily to blame but the ball was in the back of Atalanta’s net within seconds of his introduction. Aleksey Miranchuk (Muriel 84’) – N/R, Got a few touches on the ball but was very tame in his play. Reuters
    Mattia Caldara (Pessina 84’) – N/R, He wasn’t necessarily to blame but the ball was in the back of Atalanta’s net within seconds of his introduction. Aleksey Miranchuk (Muriel 84’) – N/R, Got a few touches on the ball but was very tame in his play. Reuters

Football

Real Madrid v Atalanta player ratings: Benzema 9, Modric 8; a mistake-filled 4 for Marco Sportiello

Real stroll into Champions League quarter-finals

Andy Mitten
Danny Lewis
Barcelona and Manchester

March 17, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Real Madrid avoided another early Champions League exit by beating Atalanta 3-1 to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate and reach the quarter-finals for the first time in three years.

Sergio Ramos marked his return from injury by scoring a penalty after Karim Benzema continued his scoring streak by capitalising on a glaring error from Atlanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.

Luis Muriel pulled one back for the visitors late on but any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed as substitute Marco Asensio fired in a third for Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane's side will be in Friday's draw for the last eight and with their old guard fit and firing again, they will be hopeful of exceeding what are now dampened expectations of La Liga's reigning champions.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

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