Mbappé scores 50th in Real Madrid win

AP:

REAL MADRID’S big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering Champions League title defence yesterday.

Galacticos Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. But Madrid still had to ride its luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage time when handed a golden chance to level the game.

It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champions in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place.

“It’s a very important win. Not everyone wins here. We suffered and competed. In the Champions League, you have to suffer,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “It’s still difficult to finish in the top eight, but we have two games left to earn points.”

Six-time champions Liverpool lead the way after maintaining their perfect record in Europe this season with a 1-0 win against Girona.

Like Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) also picked up a much-needed win, beating Salzburg 3-0 to sit in the last playoff spot in 24th place.

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

The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Positions nine to 24 face a playoff to reach the next phase.

After three losses in their opening five games of the league phase, the pressure was mounting on Madrid.

Questions were also being asked of Mbappé after his uncertain start since his off-season move from PSG. But he produced a moment of class to fire Madrid 1-0 up after 10 minutes at Gewiss Stadium – controlling the ball with his left foot and then finishing low with his right.

It was the 25-year-old Mbappé’s 50th Champions League goal. Lionel Messi is the only player to have reached that number at a younger age.

Mbappé was substituted before halftime with an apparent physical issue and Charles De Ketelaere levelled the game before the break from the penalty spot. But two goals inside three second-half minutes from Vinicius Junior and Bellingham put Madrid in control.

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

Mohamed Salah’s 50th Champions League goal maintained Liverpool’s perfect record in the competition this season.

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

But even after a sixth straight win for the Merseyside club, head coach Arne Slot was critical of his players in a game that saw goalkeeper Alisson pull off several saves to keep Girona out.

“If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results, I am really pleased with the five (other) games with the way we played. I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight,” he said.

Salah’s goal was his 16th in 22 appearances overall this season.

Girona were 30th with just one win from six games.

“I almost feel sorry for them because they deserved so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have until now. But we have an incredible goalkeeper,” said Slot, whose team also leads the Premier League.

Liverpool’s two remaining games are against Lille at home and PSV Eindhoven away in January.

US international Christian Pulisic is the only player to have scored against Liverpool in this season’s Champions League in a 3-1 loss for Milan in September.