Real Madrid beat Red Bull Salzburg 5-1 and qualified as Champions League champions.
Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after holding on to a ball over the more sensible of his Brazilian teammate Vinicius Junior, before scoring a sumptuous moment in the 34th minute after a good back-up from Jude Bellingham.
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Madrid smelled blood and punished Salzburg in the second half, with Kylian Mbappe seizing on an error by goalkeeper Janis Blaswich in the 48th minute. Vinicius Jr then cut into the box for Los Blancos’ fourth in the 55th minute and wrapped up the rout in the 77th minute, his 100th and 101st goals for the club.
The only blemish of the night from Madrid’s point of view was Vinicius Jr’s yellow card for simulation, meaning he will miss the final league game against Brest next week, and a consolation goal from Mads Bidstrup in the 85th minute.
Dermot Corrigan and Anantaajith Raghuraman break down the key talking points.
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Rodrygo’s first Champions League season goals were very much taken and very programmed.
Salzburg had gained confidence from some bright moments in the opening stages, and were lured up the pitch — only to be caught out by a counter-attack with all of Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Bellingham involved before Rodrygo arrived at exactly the right time to steer a fine first-time finish into the far bottom corner.
The Brazilian’s momentum was even better, with the inside of his right foot towards the far goal, after Bellingham had conscientiously set up a sensational backheel on the edge of the Salzburg box. The understanding between the two men became evident when the English midfielder skillfully took the ball out of position and the Brazilian read his aim and ran into space.
The double occurred just when Rodrygo’s position in the “XI de Gala” of Madrid for important matches could be threatened. The Madrid 5-2 final in the Spanish Super Cup, the final of Barcelona, made Carlo Ancelotti think if any other midfielder wants in his initial eleven that opposes groups more complicated than all attack players above, according to Athletics reported. Rodrygo turns out to be the most likely to abandon programming if that were the case given its lowest profile with respect to Mbappé, Vinicius Jr and Bellingham.
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Salzburg is one of those top parts, but Roddrygo had a chance to remind his manager of what he’s capable of when he gave the opportunity. He celebrated with one hand in front of his face, mimicking the wrestling star and the “You Can’t See Me” logo gesture through Hollywood actor John Cena.
Very done of the combined season of Madrid, Bellingham, took it until November to score a purpose of the league after lacking 4 games due to injury and could not locate the back of the network in the Champions League before the victory for the victory for 3-2 of Madrid on Atalanta in December. .
Against Salzburg, Bellingham showed once back that he is at the center of Ancelotti’s team in a way that aims and assists exactly to the measure. He served as a link between Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos in the midfield and up front with Rodrygo, Mbappé and Vinicius Jr.
Bellingham completed one of his 43 passes in the first part and created 3 occasions, dictating the rhythm of the Madrid game. The ball illuminated his boot on the Rodrygo road for his first goal, but was worried in the preparation of the play. In fact, he could claim assistance for the second of Rodrygo, who arose from his intelligent play after exchanging passes with Ceballos and the left side Ferland Mendy, followed by that ambitious salt.
After Mbappé and Vinicius Jr scored in the first 10 minutes of the second half, Bellingham helped Madrid gain possession. He seemed to be all over the field, constantly chasing the ball, betting two up and dancing to avoid challenges. It was a performance that had everything and that earned him a standing ovation from the Bernabéu when he was substituted in the 64th minute through Arda Guler.
Anantaajith Raghumaran
One of the few shameful moments of the night for Madrid came here when Vinicius Jr reserved in the first half, with referee Glenn Nyberg who ruled him in the collapse of Salzburg.
The Brazilian’s third yellow card at organizational level means he is suspended for next week’s final match in France against Brest.
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The incident happened before halftime, with Madrid already 2-0 up. When Vinicius Jr ran after Salzburg right-hander Aleksa Terzic, midfielder Bidstrup dropped to cover. The winger carried the ball past him and fell to the ground as the defender tried to challenge. Swedish manager Nyberg had no doubts about what he had seen, and the yellow card for simulation appeared, to the player’s apparent dismay.
Vinicius Jr’s first yellow in this season’s Champions League came for removing his jersey amid joyous celebrations when Bellingham scored to make it 4-2 in the 85th minute and confirm a fine comeback at home against Borussia Dortmund in October.
The second came during the defeat at home to Milan in November — Madrid were 2-1 down when Vinicius Jr went into the book for loudly protesting when he thought he had been fouled in the opposition area.
Vinicius Jr showed his transparent price in Madrid after the break with two very taken goals, already taking him to seven in the competition. His first effort indicated that he reached one hundred goals for Madrid, adjusting only the Brazilian moment to do so after Ronaldo Nazario.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 22, 2025
It is a shame for him and for Madrid that 3 avoidable reserves prevent him from playing next Wednesday’s match, in which his team’s long history in the festival may be decided.
Dermot Corrigan
The new Champions League format places a lot of emphasis on the difference in purpose in the final position of the groups in the 36-team table. Madrid is now 16th with 12 points, below Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and ahead of Juventus and the difference from Celtic on purpose.
Madrid took five years after a Salzburg team in trouble briefly raised its goal difference to +6, before the Bidstrup comfort goal. However, they ended the game against Juventus and Celtic, which also have 12 problems and differences in goals from +4 and +1 respectively.
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Bayern Munich’s 3-0 defeat at Feyenoord (11) means that the Bundesliga aspect also remains on 12 points, but remains ahead of Madrid with a purpose difference of 6, while Borussia Dortmund, the fourth team with 12 points, is 14th with a purpose difference of 8.
Qualifying will still be disappointed next week, at the end of the championship phase. Madrid will pass Brest Vinicius Jr, suspect, Dortmund will welcome Shakhtar Donetsk, 27th, Bayern will meet Aston Villa. PSV and Bruges Club are just one point in those five teams.
Anantaajith Raghumaran
“We will never have those players scoring,” Ancelotti said in his post-match press conference.
“Today, it’s a smart game, a little more confusing at the beginning.
“It’s almost (to enter the most sensible eight). We have to go to Brest, see to win and see where we are in the classification.
Saturday January 25: Real Valladolid (A), La Liga, 8pm GMT, 3pm ET
The play-off draw will take place on January 31 at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
The knockout playoffs begin on February 11 and 12, with the stages for the moment on February 18 and 19. Starting with the playoffs, the tournament is a group, ending with the last at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on May 31
The full KO dates are below:
Knockout Play-offs: February 11, February 12 & 18, 19
Round of 16: March 4, five and March 11, 12
Quarter-finals: April 8, 9 and April 15, 16
Semi-finals: April 29, 30 and May 6, 7
End: May 31
(Superior photo through Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP Getty Images)