Real Madrid and Atalanta meet for the second time this season as the pair clash in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Kylian Mbappe scored his first Real Madrid goal as the Champions League champions eventually secured a 2-0 win over Europa League winners Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in August.
Since then, Madrid have embarked on an up-and-down campaign, characterized by their fortunes over the past week. Carlo Ancelotti’s side were beaten 2-1 by Athletic Club last Wednesday but regained control of the league title race at the weekend by beating Girona 3-0 before Barca were Real Betis
However, the starters have a lot of work to do in this competition. They currently sit in last place in the play-offs after picking up just six points from five games. Only a win against the current Serie A leaders will do if they are to automatically progress to the last 16.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side quickly bounced back from Super Cup disappointment and have dazzled so far in the 2024/25 season. The neutral favorites are involved in an exciting domestic Scudetto race and are unbeaten in the league stage, currently sitting fifth in the table and with a strong chance of securing a place in the top eight.
here it is 90 minutes tuesday guide Champions League duel in Bergamo.
Atalanta vs Real Madrid H2H Record (all matches)
Current form (all competitions)
Atalanta |
Real Madrid |
---|---|
Atalanta 2-1 Milan – 06/12/24 |
Girona 0-3 Real Madrid – 24/07/12 |
Roma 0-2 Atalanta – 02/12/24 |
Athletic Club 2-1 Real Madrid – 24/04/12 |
Youth 1-6 Atalanta – 26/11/24 |
Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe – 12/01/24 |
Parma 0-3 Atalanta – 23/11/24 |
Liverpool – Real Madrid 2-0 – 27/11/24 |
Atalanta 2-1 Udinese – 11/10/24 |
Leganes 0-3 Real Madrid – 24/11/24 |
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
---|---|
united kingdom |
Discovery+, discovery+ app, TNT Sports 1 |
united states |
Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN USA, UniMas |
canada |
DAZN Canada |
Giorgio Scalvini has recently returned from a torn ACL in less than six months and has made two appearances for Atalanta. The defender is not expected to be up until the new year, but there could be another chance for the Italy international off the bench on Tuesday.
Gianluca Scamacca remains sidelined after tearing his ACL in pre-season and the hosts are also without Davide Zappacosta with a calf injury and Juan Cuadrado, who is suffering from a muscle problem.
Madrid will be tasked with taming an Atalanta attack that is firing on all cylinders this term. Ademola Lookman, Charles De Ketelaere and Mateo Retegui have all been in great form.
Expected line-up of Atalanta against Real Madrid (3-4-3): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; From Ketelaere, Retegui, Lookman.
Ferland Mendy is the latest Madrid down, although the muscle injury he suffered at the weekend shouldn’t keep him out for long. The visitors have Fran Garcia on the bench.
Vinicius Junior has been named in the touring squad in Bergamo and should be back in Ancelotti’s starting line-up straight away after missing Madrid’s previous four outings. Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo will also travel despite recent injury scares.
Vinicius and Rodrygo could work together with Mbappe operating in the center of Madrid’s front line. Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz are about to lose.
The visitors still have David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga sidelined.
Predicted line-up of Real Madrid against Atalanta (4-3-3): Courtois; Vázquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Garcia; Valverde, Bellingham, Modric; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Atalanta’s human-orientation forces opposing managers into a state of uncertainty, with the structure of Madrid’s possession in the Super Cup victory unlike anything seen so far from Ancelotti.
La Dea have only improved from that defeat and will certainly make life difficult for a Madrid team that is far from imperious despite the remarkable talent at their disposal. Atalanta’s cohesion is more than capable of making up for the talent deficit, but Madrid almost always get results when they need them most in this competition.
This should be an excellent game and Madrid’s front line can finally purr when left alone against Atalanta’s third.