UEFA Champions League
By Sello Masilo
Real Madrid returned to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League with a commanding 5-1 victory over RB Salzburg on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu. The win eased pressure on the reigning champions after a shaky start to their group stage campaign, keeping them in contention for the knockout rounds of the competition.
Brazilian stars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes each netted a brace, while French forward Kylian Mbappé also found the back of the net in a ruthless display that showcased Madrid’s attacking prowess.
Madrid’s Rocky Start Turned Around
Carlo Ancelotti’s men entered the match under immense pressure, having lost three of their first six games in the competition. Defeats to Liverpool, AC Milan, and Lille had left the Spanish giants in danger of an early exit from the Champions League under its new format.
Wednesday’s emphatic victory, however, lifted Madrid to 16th place in the overall standings, just one point behind Bayer Leverkusen, who currently hold the crucial eighth spot for direct qualification to the Round of 16.
Speaking after the match, Vinicius Junior expressed pride in reaching a personal milestone with his 100th goal for the club. “I’m very happy after reaching 100 goals with this shirt,” he told Movistar. “I hope to continue like this, score more goals, and mark an era in this team – that’s my dream.”
Rodrygo’s Sensational Form Drives Madrid Forward
Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, capitalising on a clever assist from Jude Bellingham, who nudged a cross into his path. The Brazilian winger, who has been in blistering form with eight goals in his last nine matches across all competitions, doubled Madrid’s lead with a brilliant curling strike before halftime.
“It’s so easy to play with Jude,” Rodrygo said post-match. “He makes everything easy, and his second assist was very nice. I love playing with him.”
Mbappé and Vinicius Add to the Rout
Kylian Mbappé, who had faced criticism earlier in the season for a slow start to life at Real Madrid, continued his resurgence with a clinical finish early in the second half. The Frenchman capitalised on a mistake by Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich to extend Madrid’s lead to 3-0.
Vinicius Junior then stole the show with two goals in the final stages of the match. The first came after Luka Modric played a precise through-ball to the Brazilian, who struck a powerful drive into the bottom corner. The second was a composed finish following a swift counterattack orchestrated by Fede Valverde.
Defensive Concerns Persist Despite Victory
Despite the impressive attacking performance, Madrid’s defence remains a concern. The team has conceded in every Champions League match this season, with Mads Bidstrup scoring a late consolation goal for Salzburg.
Ancelotti acknowledged the need to improve defensively, saying, “Scoring goals will never be a problem with these players. But for me, the key to success is defence, and that’s what we have to work on.”
Bellingham Substituted as a Precaution
Jude Bellingham, who was instrumental in Madrid’s first two goals, was substituted in the second half after experiencing back discomfort. Ancelotti downplayed concerns over his fitness, calling it “nothing too problematic.”
The English midfielder has been a revelation since joining Madrid and continues to be a vital cog in Ancelotti’s system.
Victory Brings Renewed Confidence
The dominant performance against Salzburg has injected much-needed confidence into the Real Madrid squad. Rodrygo reflected on the team’s difficult start to the season, saying, “We’ve been through moments we didn’t want to. But this victory in the Champions League, that we needed, will give us a lot of confidence to keep going now with the big challenges ahead.”
What’s Next for Madrid?
With one group stage match remaining, Real Madrid are now focused on securing a top-eight finish to avoid the extra play-off round introduced under the new Champions League format. They will face a stern test in their final group game but have momentum on their side after this morale-boosting win.
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