A howler from Sportiello! The Atalanta keeper has the ball at his feet. He hoicks it straight at Modric, 30 yards out. Modric takes a stride down the inside right before slipping the ball infield for Benzema, who slams home. Oh dear.
Vinicius Junior is a total menace. He embarks on another sizzling run down the left, entering the box only to lose his feet and run the ball out of play. Romero had given him a very sly shove in the back to knock him off balance; had he gone down, the officials would have had a decision to make. Honest Vinicius Junior!
Vinicius Junior’s shot hit Djimsiti’s elbow, but the defender’s arm was in a natural position, he had his back to play, and there was next to no space between the two players. Neither referee nor VAR shows interest, and to be fair Real don’t make any great claim.
Suddenly they pick up the pace. Vinicius Junior hares down the inside left, one-twos with Benzema, and shapes to shoot from the penalty spot. The keeper Sportiello, having been sold the dummy by Benzema’s return, is out of the game, but Djimsiti slides across to block sensationally. What a stop!
Romero crunches into a tackle on Vazquez. The referee sees nothing wrong with it, but the margin for error was slim, coming in as he was from behind. Also, he’d miss the first leg of the quarter final should he be booked and Atalanta make it through.