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Holders Real Madrid got back on track in the Champions League with a resounding 5-1 victory over RB Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Brazilian forwards Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior scored twice each, with Kylian Mbappe also finding the net.
Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a tidy finish from a Vinicius cross, and doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a curling shot from inside the box after a brilliant backheel flick from Jude Bellingham. The winger’s second goal was his eighth in his last nine games across all competitions.
Mbappe took advantage of a massive blunder by Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich to score the third in the 48th minute. The French superstar pinched the ball from Blaswich and tapped home to continue his own recent run of fine form after a shaky start to life at Madrid.
Vinicius Junior then made two magnificent runs in the 55th and 77th minutes to extend Real’s lead. Veteran midfielder Luka Modric sent Vinicius Junior down the left with a fine pass for Madrid’s fourth, and the Brazilian finished with a powerful drive across Blaswich. Vinicius netted again after Fede Valverde burst down the middle and put him through after a slick team move, with the forward stroking home with ease after losing his marker.
Mads Bidstrup scored a consolation goal for the visitors in the 85th minute, but it was too little, too late for Salzburg. The goal also continued Madrid’s unenviable run of conceding in each of their Champions League outings this season.
The win ensures Real Madrid’s qualification for the next round, but they will need to win their last game at Brest and rely on other results to earn a top-eight finish and avoid a two-legged playoff. Salzburg, meanwhile, are eliminated from the competition with only three points from seven games.
Real Madrid’s victory was a welcome rebound after a worrying start to their Champions League campaign, which saw them lose three of their first six games. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will likely need to compete in the extra playoff round in February unless they can scrape a top-eight spot.
The win leaves Real Madrid 16th in the standings on 12 points, a point behind Bayer Leverkusen in eighth.
