Real Madrid thrashed Red Bull Salzburg 5-1 as they asserted their credentials as Champions League holders.
Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after holding on to a ball over fellow Brazilian junior Vinicius, before scoring a moment in the 34th minute after an excellent Theel from Jude Bellingham.
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Madrid smelled blood and punished Salzburg in the second half, with Kylian Mbappé taking advantage of an error by goalkeeper Janis Blaswich in the 48th minute. Vinicius JR finished off the area for the fourth minute of the whites and finished the win in the minute 77 , his goals 100 and 101 for the club.
The only foul of the night from Madrid’s point of view was Vinicius J. R. ‘s yellow card. by simulation, which will prevent him from playing the last championship match against Brest next week, and a consolation goal by Mads Bidstrup in the 85th minute.
Dermot Corrigan and Anantaajith Raghuraman details the main discussion issues.
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How will the direct damage of the Champions League with direct elimination be directed?
Rodrygo’s first Champions League goals of the season were both very well taken, and very well timed.
Salzburg had gained confidence from some brilliant moments in the early stages, and had been drawn into the field, to be caught in a counter-attack with all Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Bellingham concerned before Roddrygo arrived at precisely the right moment to head straight. A fine end in the corner at the extreme decline.
The Brazilian’s timing was even better, turning with the inside of his right foot towards the far goal after Bellingham had painstakingly set him up with a sensational backheel from the edge of the Salzburg area. The understanding between the two men became evident when the England midfielder cleverly pulled the Salzburg defenders out of their position and the Brazilian read his aim and ran into space.
The double strike came just as Rodrygo’s place in Madrid’s ‘Gala XI’ for big games might be coming under threat. Madrid’s 5-2 Supercopa de Espana final thrashing by Barcelona earlier this month has made Carlo Ancelotti consider whether he needs another midfielder in his starting XI against more demanding sides rather than all of the above attack-minded players, as The Athletic has reported. Rodrygo would seem to be the most likely player to drop out of the lineup if that were the case given his lower profile compared to Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Bellingham.
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Salzburg are not one of those more productive teams, but Rodrygo took the opportunity to remind his coach what he is capable of when the opportunity presents itself. He held it with one hand in front of his face, imitating the gesture of Wrestling Star and Hollywood actor John Cena: “You can’t see me. “
Much was made of Bellingham’s mixed start to the season. It took him until November to score a La Liga goal after missing four matches due to injury and he had not found the back of the net in the Champions League until Madrid’s 3-2 win against Atalanta in December.
Against Salzburg, Bellingham once demonstrated that he is in the center of the Ancelotti team in a way that points and helps precisely. It served as a link between Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos in the center of the field and in the first row of Rodrygo, Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Bellingham ended all one of his 43 passes in the first part while creating 3 opportunities, dictating the speed of the Madrid game. The ball sent his boot to Rodrygo’s trail for his first goal, but was worried about establishing the movement. And he can claim Rodrygo’s hand, who arrived here from his intelligent movement after exchanging passes with Ceballos and the left side Ferland Mendy, followed that bold Backsheel.
After Mbappe and Vinicius Jr scored inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half, Bellingham helped Madrid control possession. He appeared all over the pitch, constantly showing for the ball, playing one-twos and dancing away from challenges. It was a performance that had everything and brought him a standing ovation from the Bernabeu when he was substituted in the 64th minute for Arda Guler.
Anantajith Raghumran
One of the few difficult moments of the night for Madrid came when Vinicius Jr was booked in the first half and referee Glenn Nyberg deemed that he had jumped into the Salzburg area.
The Brazilian’s third yellow card in the organisational phase is suspended for next week’s final circular in France against Brest.
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The incident happened just before halftime, with Madrid already 2-0. When Vinicius JR burst in after Salzburg’s right, Aleksa Terzic, the Bidstrup midfielder fell for cover. The winger was driving the ball in front of him and he fell to the ground as the defender tried to challenge. Nyberg’s Swedish officer had no doubts about what he had seen, and the yellow card appeared for simulation, much to the player’s apparent dismay.
Vinicius Jr’s first yellow card in this season’s Champions League came for his blouse amid joyous celebrations as Bellingham scored to make it 4-2 in the 85th minute and confirm an excellent comeback at home to Borussia Dortmund in October.
He came to the defeat of the house to Milan in November: Madrid was 2-1 when Vinicius Jr entered the electronic book to protest aloud when the idea that he had received a foul in the opposition area.
Vinicius Jr showed his apparent value in Madrid after the break with two very good goals, already bringing him to the seventh row in the competition. His first effort earned him success in one hundred goals for Madrid, fitting in at the time when the Brazilian achieved it after Ronaldo Nazario.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 22, 2025
It is a pity for him, and for Madrid, that three arguably avoidable bookings mean they will not be able to count on him for next Wednesday’s game.
Dermot Corrigan
The new format of the Champions League places a lot of emphasis on the difference in purpose in making a decision on the final position of the groups in the 36-team table. Juventus and Celtic for purpose purposes.
Madrid, who took five points against a long-suffering Salzburg, briefly increased their goal difference to 6, before Bidstrup’s comfort goal. They still finished with the in-form lead of Juventus and Celtic, who also have 12 points and goal differences of 4 and 1 respectively.
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The defeat of the Bayern Munich 3-0 against Feyenoord (which is in 11th place) meant that the Bundesliga team also remained with 12 points, although slightly ahead of Madrid with a goal difference of +6, while Borussia Dortmund, the fourth team with 12 points. , occupy 14 with a goal difference of +8.
The standings will face another upheaval next week when the league phase ends. Madrid Travel to Brest without the suspended Vinicius Jr, Dortmund host the 27th Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayern meet Slovan Bratislava Winless (who has conceded 24 goals, the most in the league), Juventus entertains Benfica in Turin and Celtic trips to Aston Villa. Psv and Club Brugge are just one point those five teams.
Anantaajith Raghumaran
“We’ll never have a problem scoring goals with these players,” Ancelotti told his post-match press conference.
“Today is an intelligent party, a little more confusing at the beginning.
“It’s almost (to put the eight most sensible). We have to go to Brest, try to win and see how we are in the standings. “
Saturday January 25: Real Valladolid (A), La Liga, 8pm GMT, 3pm ET
The tie will take place on January 31 at the European Football Chamber in Nyon, Switzerland.
The knockout play-offs begin on February 11 and 12, with the return matches on February 18 and 19. Starting with the play-offs, the tournament is played in group format and ends with the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Germany in May. 31.
The complete dates for the Round of are below:
Direct dams: February 11, 12 and February 18, 19
Eighth final: March 4, March 5 and 11, 12
Final quarter: April 9, 9 and 15
Semifinals: April 29, 30 and May 6, 7
End: May 31
(Superior photo through Pierre-Philippe Marcou / AFP Getty Images)