Mbappé insists Real Madrid ‘need to win’ against ‘strong’ Atalanta | OneFootball

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé didn’t seem intimidated by Atalanta’s recent form as he said it is normal to face ‘strong teams’ in the Champions League and insisted the Blancos are desperate to bounce back from their latest defeat against Liverpool.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side will travel to the Gewiss Stadium on Tuesday and will feel the pressure of getting points against the Nerazzurri, as they’ve lost three of their five European fixtures so far and saw their hopes of finishing in the top eight of the renewed group phase suffer a major blow.

Real Madrid’s French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe hugs Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Atalanta BC in Warsaw, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)

In contrast, Atalanta is one of only three sides who are still unbeaten in the competition and are flying in Serie A, with their latest 2-1 win over Milan temporarily firing them into the top place. However, the France international didn’t look particularly impressed when reminded of La Dea’s brilliant moment, as he claimed his side are ready ‘to compete and win’.

Mbappé: Real Madrid ‘ready’ to ‘compete and win’ against ‘strong’ Atalanta

“It’s the Champions League, when you play there you always have strong teams,” Mbappé said after Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Girona on Saturday.

Real Madrid’s French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (L) scores during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Atalanta BC in Warsaw, on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)

“We have to win because we lost the last match and we are ready to go and compete and win.”

The French striker scored his side’s third of the night at Girona, netting his 10th goal from 20 games across all competitions since signing for the Merengues, including one against Gian Piero Gasperini’s outfit in August’s European Supercup.