Tops / Flops Real Madrid-Atalanta: Benzema's recital, Gasperini's tactical mistakes

TOPS

Karim Benzema, power 70

To speak of "recital" is probably too strong to qualify the performance of Karim Benzema this Tuesday evening.

While Real was poorly engaged at the start of the match, the Frenchman brought his team back to life.

Thanks to permanent stalls, he was able to instill a positive dynamic in the Merengue who were in the hard.

The former Lyonnais also gave us silky controls, smart passes and decisive dribbling.

His opening scoring (34th) rewards a high-level performance which once again shows the importance of Benzema in the game of Real Madrid.

Throughout the rest of the meeting, he did not cease to demonstrate the high class player that he is.

His goal is also the 70th of his career in the Champions League.

He is only the fifth player in history to cross this colossal milestone.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Raul and Lewandowski did it before him.

It is only one realization of the total of Raul, legend of Real.

21 - Karim Benzema has scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, at least 15 more than any other Real Madrid player (Casemiro, 6).

He scored his 70th Champions League goal, the 5th best total in the history of the competition.

Leader.

pic.twitter.com/nnf5vFF6Sy

- OptaJean (@OptaJean) March 16, 2021

Luka Modric, the eternal Madrid metronome

If like most of his teammates he took a long time to heat up, Modric ended up being excellent.

The Croatian is the one who took advantage of Sportiello's blunder and then exploited it by intelligently giving the ball to Benzema who opened the scoring (34th).

Modric then continued to unwind, stringing together magnificent ball outings and precise passes.

His connection with Benzema was remarkable and Atalanta never seemed to have a solution.

Vinicius, dribbler but not finisher

We could sum up Vinicius' profile with this match.

Very moving and sharp in his dribbling, he annoyed the Italian defense with his forays.

It was he who caused, after a nice hook on his compatriot Toloi, the penalty that Sergio Ramos transformed perfectly (60th).

But it was his raid in the 53rd minute that tarnished his performance a bit.

Beautifully served in depth by Mendy, Vinicius was performing a festival in defense of Atalanta and seemed untouchable.

He appeared in front of the goalkeeper but shot aside.

An incredible failure but compensated by a very good game overall.

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FLOPS

Gasperini was wrong

The non-tenure of Duvan Zapata, excellent in the first leg, looked like a stroke of poker.

He is ultimately failed.

In the obligation to bring in the Colombian when returning from the locker room while Atalanta is led, Gasperini admitted his bad intuition.

Zapata was particularly good as soon as he got home and brought what Bergamo was missing right away.

The Italian technician is still wrong when he makes a double change after the reduction of the score of his men (83rd).

This coaching weakens the Italian left lane and Vazquez takes the opportunity to serve Asensio who deceived Sportiello almost on the start following the goal of Bergamo (85th).

Sportiello, the ball that kills

Already at fault on a goal in the group stage against Ajax, Sportiello again cost his team a goal.

While Atalanta was starting to get tough but still held the house, the Italian goalkeeper offered Real Madrid the opener on a plateau.

A turning point in this double confrontation which almost sealed the elimination of his family.

Sportiello made up for it somewhat by taking out a nice header from Benzema even if he was unfortunate enough to have put it back on him.

The French finally found the amount.

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