The match between Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio (Atalanta) and Real Madrid in European competitions has occurred several times, most notably in the UEFA Champions League. Here's a breakdown of key facts about their encounters:

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1. UEFA Champions League 2020-21: Round of 16

Atalanta vs. Real Madrid in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League was one of the more high-profile matchups between these two teams.

• First Leg: Atalanta 0-1 Real Madrid

  • Date: February 24, 2021

  • Venue: Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy

  • Key Fact: Despite Atalanta having home advantage, Real Madrid won with a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal by Ferland Mendy in the 86th minute. It was a hard-fought match, and Atalanta finished the game with 10 men after Remo Freuler was sent off in the 17th minute.

• Second Leg: Real Madrid 3-1 Atalanta

  • Date: March 16, 2021

  • Venue: Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, Madrid, Spain

  • Key Fact: Real Madrid comfortably secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win, progressing with a 4-1 aggregate score. Goals came from Karim Benzema (2) and Marco Asensio. Atalanta's lone goal was from Duvan Zapata.

2. UEFA Champions League 2021-22 Group Stage

Atalanta and Real Madrid were drawn into the same Group D during the 2021-22 season. However, they did not meet in this group, with both teams facing other opponents.

• Real Madrid's Group: Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Sheriff Tiraspol were the other teams in Group D along with Real Madrid.

• Atalanta's Group: They played in Group F alongside Manchester United, Villarreal, and Young Boys.

3. Tactics and Play Styles:

• Atalanta: Under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta has become known for their aggressive, attacking football. Their "3-4-1-2" formation relies on rapid transitions and creating overloads in attack. They are also known for high pressing.

• Real Madrid: Historically, Real Madrid plays with a more balanced approach but can rely on individual brilliance, particularly from players like Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr., and Luka Modrić. Their tactical setup typically features a 4-3-3 formation, with the focus on control, counter-attacks, and exploiting the skills of their forwards.

4. Key Players (Recent Encounters):

• Atalanta:

  • Duvan Zapata – A physical and powerful striker.

  • Luis Muriel – A versatile attacker known for his speed.

  • Giorgio Scalvini – A young, promising defender.

• Real Madrid:

  • Karim Benzema – The focal point of the attack and a leader in key moments.

  • Vinicius Jr. – A dynamic winger with flair and pace.

  • Luka Modrić – A creative midfield maestro.

5. Atalanta's Performance in European Competitions:

Atalanta's performance in the UEFA Champions League has been remarkable considering their relative lack of historical success in European tournaments. They reached the quarter-finals in the 2019-2020 season, before being eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain.

6. Real Madrid's Performance in Recent UCL:

Real Madrid, one of the most successful clubs in the history of the UEFA Champions League, have won the competition multiple times, with their most recent victory in the 2021-2022 season under Carlo Ancelotti. They are the most successful club in UCL history with 14 titles.

These two teams, while contrasting in style and history, provided an intriguing matchup in their European encounters. Real Madrid's tactical depth and individual brilliance often made them favorites, but Atalanta's high-energy, aggressive play always posed a significant challenge.