Defending champions Real Madrid defeated Serie A leaders Atalanta 3-2 in a nail-biting five-goal thriller on matchday 6 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock for Madrid in the 10th minute inside the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo as the Frenchman, who scored his 50th Champions League goal, found the bottom corner of the Atalanta post following a sublime pass from Brahim Diaz.
The hosts, however, levelled proceedings in first-half stoppage time through Charles De Ketelaere, with the Belgian finding the top corner from the penalty spot after Sead Kolasinac was brought down by Aurelien Tchouameni.
Los Blancos were back in front in the 56th minute as the returning Vinicius Junior found the bottom right corner with a first-time finish after a bit of luck ensured the ball found him in the Atalanta area.
Jude Bellingham joined the party three minutes later, netting his first Champions League goal of the season. The English midfielder unleashed a low drive into the bottom left corner after he was played in by Vinicius’ pass.
Atalanta didn’t go down without a fight, and they were handed a lifeline by Nigerian forward Adeola Lookman, whose sublime 65th-minute finish beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Victory moved Madrid into 18th in the standings as they clinched their first win in three games in the competition, while Atalanta dropped into ninth.
Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah’s 63rd-minute penalty handed Liverpool a 1-0 win against Girona at the Montilivi, ensuring the Reds maintained their perfect record in the Champions League this season.
The Egyptian sent Girona’s goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga the wrong way after former Manchester United midfielder Donny Van de Beek was adjudged to have fouled Luis Diaz in the box.
Liverpool remain atop the standings with 18 points, while Girona are 30th with just three points.
Matchday 6 opens in style 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/dMtqKCi34f
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 10, 2024
At BayArena in Germany, Bayer Leverkusen clinched a vital 1-0 win against Inter Milan thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Nordi Mukiele.
The win helped Leverkusen, who moved into second in the standings, end their three-game losing streak against Inter, who dropped into fourth.
Elsewhere, Ross Barkley scored the winner as Aston Villa beat RB Leipzig 3-2 to move into third in the standings.
John McGinn’s opener was cancelled out by Lois Openda’s strike, while Christoph Baumgartner drew Leipzig level once again after Jhon Duran had put the visitors ahead.
Barkley, however, had the final say as his shot was deflected off German defender Lukas Klostermann before beating goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
At the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Bayern Munich rallied to thrash Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1. Kevin gave the Ukrainians the lead inside the first five minutes, but a brace from Michael Olise and one apiece from Konrad Laimer, Thomas Muller, and Jamal Musiala helped the Bavarians stage a successful comeback.
French champions Paris Saint-Germain sealed a 3-0 win against RB Salzburg, marking their first win since beating Girona on opening week.
Goals from Portugal internationals Gonzalo Ramos and Nuno Mendes, as well as a first Champions League goal for Desire Doue, were enough for PSG.
In Tuesday’s other games, Celtic played out a goalless draw with Dinamo Zagreb; Brest pipped PSV 1-0; and Sporting CP’s problems continued as they fell 2-1 to Club Brugge.
