Champions League: Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham on course as Actual Madrid beats Atalanta 3-2; Liverpool defeats Girona

Actual Madrid’s huge stars turned on the fashion to revive the Spanish large’s faltering Champions League title defence on Tuesday (December 10, 2024).

Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in an exciting 3-2 win at Italian league chief Atalanta. However Madrid nonetheless needed to journey its luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in entrance of purpose in stoppage time when handed a golden likelihood to stage the sport.

It was solely Madrid’s third win within the competitors’s revamped league part and leaves the 15-time champion within the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place.

“It’s a vital win. Not everybody wins right here. We suffered and competed. Within the Champions League, you must undergo,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated. “It’s nonetheless troublesome to complete within the prime eight, however we have now two video games left to earn factors.”

Liverpool at prime of the desk

Six-time champion Liverpool leads the best way after sustaining its excellent document in Europe this season with a 1-0 win in opposition to Girona.

Like Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain additionally picked up a much-needed win, beating Salzburg 3-0 to take a seat within the final playoff spot in twenty fourth place.

Bayer Leverkusen is second after a 1-0 win over Inter Milan, whereas Aston Villa beat Leipzig 3-2 and is third.

The highest eight groups advance on to the spherical of 16. Positions 9 to 24 face a playoff to achieve the subsequent part.

After three losses in its opening 5 video games of the league part, the strain was mounting on Madrid.

Questions have been additionally being requested of Mbappe after his unsure begin since his offseason transfer from PSG. However he produced a second of sophistication to fireside Madrid 1-0 up after 10 minutes at Gewiss Stadium — controlling the ball along with his left foot after which ending low along with his proper.

50 UCL targets for Mbappe, Salah

It was the 25-year-old Mbappe’s fiftieth Champions League purpose. Lionel Messi is the one participant to have reached that quantity at a youthful age.

Mbappe was substituted off earlier than halftime with an obvious bodily difficulty and Charles De Ketelaere leveled the sport earlier than the break from the penalty spot. However two targets inside three second-half minutes from Vinicius Junior and Bellingham put Madrid in management.

Ademola Lookman’s purpose made it 3-2, however Madrid survived Retegui’s late effort and held on.

Mohamed Salah’s fiftieth Champions League purpose maintained Liverpool’s excellent document within the competitors this season.

The Egypt ahead struck a 63rd minute penalty to seal the win in Spain that stored Liverpool atop the 36-team league.

However even after a sixth straight win for the Merseyside membership, head coach Arne Slot was crucial of his gamers in a sport that noticed goalkeeper Alisson pull off a number of saves to maintain Girona out.

“In the event you ask me about all of the six video games, I’m actually happy with all the outcomes, I’m actually happy with the 5 (different) video games with the best way we performed. I’m removed from happy in regards to the efficiency tonight,” he stated.

Salah’s purpose was his sixteenth in 22 appearances general this season.

Girona was thirtieth with only one win from six video games.

“I virtually really feel sorry for them as a result of they deserved a lot extra on this Champions League marketing campaign than the three factors they’ve till now. However we have now an unbelievable goalkeeper,” stated Slot, whose workforce additionally leads the Premier League.

Liverpool’s two remaining video games are in opposition to Lille at residence and PSV Eindhoven away in January.

U.S. worldwide Christian Pulisic is the one participant to have scored in opposition to Liverpool on this season’s Champions League in a 3-1 loss for Milan in September.

Bayern, PSG win

Bayern Munich routed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 to maneuver into the automated qualifying positions for the spherical of 16.

Michael Olise scored an exquisite solo purpose by dribbling previous a bunch of gamers for his first of two within the sport. Bayern’s win got here after going 1-0 down inside 5 minutes to a purpose from Brazilian winger Kevin.

PSG is just not completed but.

A depressing begin to the league part noticed the French large choose up simply 4 factors from 5 video games because it adjusted tp life with out stars like Mbappe, Messi and Neymar, who’ve all departed previously two seasons.

However victory at Salzburg moved PSG up into the playoff positions.

Goncalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and Need Doue all scored.

Leverkusen is again on a roll after struggling to repeat the success of final season’s gorgeous German league and cup double.

It is now six straight wins in all competitions, with Nordi Mukiele’s ninetieth minute purpose securing victory in opposition to Inter and shifting Leverkusen into second on 13 factors — 5 behind Liverpool.

Villa, Inter and Brest are all on 13 factors as nicely.

Inter dropped to fourth after conceding for the primary time on this season’s competitors.

Villa is third after its personal resurgence in kind. Victory in opposition to Leipzig was its third in a row after an eight-game winless run.

Brest is certainly one of this season’s shock packages on its Champions League debut and is fifth after beating PSV Eindhoven 1-0.

Sporting Lisbon, in twelfth, couldn’t construct on taking a third-minute lead at Membership Brugge — shedding 2-1 in Belgium. Brugge is 14th.

Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 with Celtic and each groups stay within the playoff positions.