Real Madrid, the record 14-time champions, easily defeated Braga 3-0 on Wednesday to keep their perfect record intact and cruise into the Champions League last 16.
Despite Jude Bellingham, their leading scorer, being rested, the Spanish powerhouses advanced from Group C thanks to goals from Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo Goes.
After Diaz opened the score, Vinicius and Rodrygo, two Brazilian wingers who have been criticized for their lack of goals this season, reacted with elegant finishes to help their club advance.
After a 1-1 tie with bottom-place club Union Berlin, Madrid has won four of their last four games to top the group with 12 points, ahead of Napoli in second place with seven.
Madrid has now advanced to the tournament’s knockout round in 26 straight years.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters, “It tells me that Real Madrid has done better than others in this competition, because getting through the group is not always that simple.”
“We are very happy to reach the last 16, but it doesn’t mean we’re going to switch off in the last two games because for us, all Champions League games are there to show our best level in.”
Andriy Lunin replaced Los Blancos goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was injured during the warm-up.
In the sixth minute, the Ukrainian was called upon to save Alvaro Djalo’s penalty by diving to his right.
Cristian Borja was brought down by Lucas Vazquez in the vicinity, but the Portuguese team was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
On the opposite side, Diaz’s goal was disallowed due to a foul by Vinicius; nonetheless, the former midfield player for Manchester City did not have to wait long for another, legitimate, goal.
Rodrygo broke the stalemate by sending the ball through on the left side of the area and cutting it back to Diaz, who blasted close range into the net’s roof.
With a mocking grin, the 24-year-old drew a VAR screen, perhaps challenging the referees to attempt and stop this goal.
In Bellingham’s customary attacking midfield spot, Diaz performed well during a rare start and contributed to the majority of Madrid’s offensive plays.
After making the summer transition, Bellingham has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances. He waited from the sidelines as Ancelotti allowed him to heal from a shoulder injury he sustained in the Rayo tie.
Early in the second half, Benfica goalkeeper Matheus made a fantastic double stop to deny Diaz another opportunity to score.
Telling reporters, “I’m doing my thing and showing that I can perform, and help the coach,” Diaz said.
“There are very good players here but I’m showing that I can handle more minutes — bit by bit, everything comes.”
Double act from Brazil
Vinicius scored the second goal just before the hour had passed, using deft agility and movement inside the area to finish low and smoothly.
Although it was just his fourth goal of the season in 12 games across all competitions—low by his own standards—Ancelotti has projected that he and Rodrygo would score more goals than Bellingham at the end of the season.
After being sent in by his countryman Vinicius, Rodrygo scored Madrid’s third goal with a beautiful chipped finish. In joy, he hugged Ancelotti on the sidelines.
Up forward, the coach had urged patience for his dynamic combo, and both of them rewarded him with goals that thrilled the Santiago Bernabeu.
“It was a thank-you hug,” Rodrygo said. “We must assess others when we’re not feeling well because then we can really understand their true nature.
“I wasn’t in a good moment, the coach was always with me, always supporting me, saying good things — I was obliged to score and to go and thank him.”
In stoppage time, Lunin made a fantastic save to deny former Barcelona striker Abel Ruiz’s header and maintain Madrid’s clean sheet, guaranteeing that the evening was almost flawless on all fronts.
