MADRID, (Reuters) – Real Madrid easily defeated Atalanta 3-1 at home in their second-last-16 clash in the Champions League today to take a walk to the quarterfinal round 4-1 on aggregate.
Karim Benzema scored a sixth goal in five games to put the European champions 13 times in charge after 34 minutes while captain Sergio Ramos converted a penalty at the hour mark.
The Italian team got one goal back thanks to a free-kick from Luis Muriel in the 83rd but any hope they had of completing a rebound was quickly shattered a minute later by a low strike by Real substitute Marco Asensio.
Real, who were knocked out in the last 16 by Manchester City last season and Ajax Amsterdam the season before, reached the final eight for the first time since 2018. They will be the only Spanish side left in the competition unless should Atletico Madrid overturn 1 Default -0 at Chelsea today.