AFP, Bergamo
Ferland Mendy put Real Madrid within touching distance of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday with the late strike that sank 10-man Atalanta 1-0 in Bergamo.
The French left-back's curling effort came four minutes from time in a last 16, first leg clash in which the hosts had to play a man down for over 70 minutes, giving Zinedine Zidane's side the advantage heading into the second leg in Madrid on March 16.
"We didn't have a great game tonight, but the most important thing was the result, scoring away was important for us," said Zidane.
"It's a very good result against an Atalanta team even at ten, because they defended very well.
"The tie is open. We are going to have a great return match."
Atalanta had attacked early but the game was transformed when Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler was harshly send off in the 17th minutes for tripping Mendy at the edge of the penalty area.
Gian Piero Gasperini's woes continued with forward Duvan Zapata limping off after half an hour with a muscular problem with midfielder Mario Pasalic coming off the bench.
"The game was ruined," said Gasperini. "I don't know what would have happened 11 against 11. "I just got banned for saying something in Serie A, if I say something now then UEFA will ban me. But this is football suicide.
"Enough of these referees who've never played a game and don't know the difference between a challenge and a foul."
