Champions League

Real Madrid 3-1 Atalanta Player Ratings: Modric coasts as Los Blancos reach the quarter finals

The veteran playmaker rolled back the years by running the game in the middle of the park to help Madrid past the Italians

 
10:53pm on Tuesday 16th March 2021
By
Harry De Cosemo

Real Madrid cruised through to the Champions League quarter finals with a 3-1 victory over an off-colour Atalanta at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, completing a 4-1 win on aggregate.

Karim Benzema scored in the first half before Sergio Ramos added a second, while Marco Asensio killed the tie late on after Luis Muriel had scored a free-kick.

Los Blancos were very rarely troubled, as Atalanta once again failed to lay a glove on the Spanish giants despite the late goal from Muriel.

So, who performed best in the Spanish capital?

Real Madrid 3-1 Atalanta Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats

✔️ Karim Benzema 7.8

Benzema's goal set the tone but he was a big presence throughout. He should have scored another, but his overall play deserved great credit.

Nobody had more shots than his four, with two on target, and he completed four dribbles; he was constantly driving the team on and showed great leadership qualities.

He very nearly scored a second before he saw a header saved, with his follow-up attempt hitting the post.

Marco Sportiello 5.1

Atalanta's goalkeeper never really recovered from making an error for the opening goal. He looked shaky all night, and struggled to take control of his area.

He did manage to get a hand to Ramos' penalty, but it was one he should have saved.

Even for Asensio's goal late on, his weak attempted save at the front post summed up his night.

⭐ Luka Modric 9.0

The Croatian was Madrid's key man, creating the first big chance of the night for the hosts He laid on Benzema's goal, but Atalanta didn't put him or Toni Kroos under nearly enough pressure in midfield. Defensively, he won four of his eight duels.

Modric and Kroos played the most passes on the night, and the former enjoyed 90% completion. It wasn't a particularly taxing night for the former Tottenham man, but he was still head and shoulders above all others on the pitch.

Real Madrid 3-1 Atalanta Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats

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