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Karim Benzema, 33, after his 70th goal in the Champions League
Photo: JUAN MEDINA / REUTERS
Real Madrid have reached the round of eight in the Champions League again after missing the quarter-finals in 2020 and 2019.
After the 1-0 win in the first leg at Atalanta, the Spaniards also won the second leg 3-1 (1-0).
The goals for Real were scored by Karim Benzema (34th minute), Sergio Ramos (60th penalty kick) and Marco Asensio (84th).
Luis Muriel scored for Atalanta (82nd).
Red after 17 minutes, the decisive 0-1 shortly before the end - the first leg was more than unfortunate for Atalanta.
Bergamos Robin Gosens almost scored the absolutely necessary goal in the second leg after 130 seconds, but from close range he was unable to overcome Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (3rd minute).
As usual, Atalanta was high and stressed the defensive network of the Madrilenians.
After a good quarter of an hour, however, the hosts were able to calm the game in the Estadio Alfredo di Stéfano.
Real, the team with the most possession of the ball in the Champions League season so far, gained control primarily through the experienced Luka Modrić, 35, and Toni Kroos, 31.
And benefited from a bad mistake by Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello: He played the ball in the build-up into the feet of Modrić, who immediately passed Benzema.
The French did not miss this opportunity and overcame Sportiello from ten meters.
It was the 33-year-old's 70th goal in the Champions League.
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Toni Kroos in his 100th starting eleven in the Champions League
Photo: Ruben Albarran / PRESSINPHOTO / imago images / Pressinphoto
Atalanta now needed two goals to advance and strengthened the offensive: With Duván Zapata, another attacker came into the game.
Reals Vinícius Júnior left the preliminary decision in the 52nd minute when he shot the ball just wide of the goal after a dream solo.
Eight minutes later, however, the time had come.
After a mistake in midfield, the Italians' defense could only stop the fast Vinícius with a foul on the edge of the box.
Ramos, 34, turned safely into the left corner (60th).
Benzema hit the post with a double chance in the 68th minute, Zapata missed several times against Courtois (67th, 76th).
The narrow hopes of the guests after Muriel's free-kick (82nd) died less than two minutes later when Asensio made it 3-1 with a shot in the left corner (84th).
Madrid are now looking forward to the draw for the upcoming Champions League rounds next Friday.
Atalanta can concentrate on the fight for re-qualification for the premier class in the domestic Serie A and has the chance of the first title since 1963 in the final of the Coppa Italia against Juventus.
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