L-R: Vinicius, Mbappé and Rodrygo
Brazilian duo lead a five-star Madrid display, keeping slim hopes alive for a top-eight Champions League spot.
Real Madrid roared back to life in the Champions League with a commanding 5-1 victory over Red Bull Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabéu. The dazzling performances of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes, who scored two goals each, alongside Kylian Mbappé’s strike, eased some of the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s side after a shaky start to the tournament.
Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a tidy finish set up by Jude Bellingham’s cross. The Brazilian winger doubled the lead before halftime, thanks to a stunning backheel assist from Bellingham, firing a curling strike past goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
Mbappé added Madrid’s third early in the second half, capitalizing on a mistake by Blaswich to tap home. Vinicius Junior then took center stage, netting twice—once from Luka Modric’s perfectly weighted pass and another after a slick team move led by Fede Valverde.
Despite Mads Bidstrup’s late volley for Salzburg, Madrid’s dominant display was exactly what they needed to regain confidence. The win lifts them to 16th in the standings, just one point shy of the crucial eighth spot for direct qualification to the last 16.
However, Madrid’s inconsistent start to the competition, including losses to Liverpool, AC Milan, and Lille, means they face an uphill battle to avoid February’s play-off round in the Champions League’s new format.
Speaking after the match, Ancelotti said, “This is the Real Madrid we know. We’ve shown that we can fight back and deliver when it matters most. The focus now is to maintain this momentum.”
The victory keeps Madrid’s hopes alive, but with only one group-stage match remaining, every point will be critical for their European campaign.
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