Real Madrid qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a routine 3-0 victory over Braga on Wednesday evening.
Braga wasted a glorious chance to take an early lead in the Spanish capital, Alvaro Djalo seeing his tame penalty saved by Andriy Lunin. Real Madrid responded well and eventually took the lead with 27 minutes on the clock after Brahim Diaz calmly converted Rodrygo’s cutback, the hosts heading into half-time with a one-goal cushion.
Vinicius Jr. doubled Madrid’s lead after the break, tidily finishing a well worked move from inside the penalty area. Rodrygo then made it three shortly afterwards, chipping over Matheus following Vinicius’ delightful through ball. Braga were unable to find a response of any description.
How the game unfolded
Champions League visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu rarely get better opportunities to upset the Real Madrid crowd than Braga did after just six minutes. Lucas Vazquez was penalised for a needless pull in the box, but Djalo spurned the chance to put the Portuguese side ahead from 12 yards with Lunin rebuffing his penalty.
Vazquez was arguably fortunate not to concede another spot-kick with 20 minutes played after he bundled into Bruma in the penalty area, but referee Halil Meler and his VAR team decided there was no foul. Federico Valverde almost grabbed an opener for Madrid half-a-minute later, but couldn’t keep his volley under the crossbar.
Real Madrid eventually punished Braga’s early penalty miss just after the halfway point of the half. Ferland Mendy’s defence-splitting pass found Rodrygo in behind the visiting defence, the Brazilian then cutting back for Diaz to lift into the roof of the net from close range.
Rodrygo saw an effort of his own well saved by Matheus just before the break as Madrid continued to probe the Braga backline. Despite their best efforts, the hosts had to settle for a one-goal advantage at the break as the visitors rued that early fluffed spot-kick.
Diaz continued to terrorise the Braga defence after the break with his quick feet, the Spaniard seeing a shot well saved by Matheus before his rebound was blocked, while Rodrygo also had an effort parried by the Brazilian goalkeeper.
Eventually Madrid did manage a well-earned second on 58 minutes. Vazquez supplied Vinicius Jr. in the penalty area, with the Brazilian jinking on to his right foot before unleashing a fine low drive into the bottom corner.
Two became three just minutes later, Rodrygo finishing a devastating counter-attack with a deft chip from Vinicius’ pass. The Brazilian duo combined wonderfully to put the game beyond all doubt, with Braga needing the mightiest of miracles to stage a dramatic comeback.
No such miracle was forthcoming for the Portuguese side, with Madrid continuing to test the Braga defence despite taking their foot off the gas. The hosts strolled to three points in the end, securing qualification from Group C after a fourth straight Champions League win.
GK: Andriy Lunin – 8/10 – Kept Madrid from falling behind with an early penalty save, reaching low to his right to palm Djalo’s effort out. The Ukrainian had very little else to do but did showcase his calmness in possession.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – 5/10 – Idiotic concession of a penalty early on and was perhaps lucky not to give away another 15 minutes later. His mistakes could have proved costly but he was fortunately bailed out by teammates.
CB: Nacho – 7/10 – Solid if not spectacular, with increasingly less to do as the game wore on.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – 7/10 – Much like the entirety of the Madrid defence, Rudiger struggled a little in the opening half-an-hour. However, improved as time passed and Braga wilted.
LB: Ferland Mendy – 6/10 – The odd foray forward but didn’t do an awful lot to supplement the attack. Strong defensively, albeit rarely tested.
CM: Toni Kroos – 6/10 – Some characteristically neat passing throughout. Not his busiest performance, leaving the hard yards to Valverde and Camavinga.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga – 8/10 – Effortless throughout, gliding past challenges in midfield and using his physicality to dominate central areas. Such a graceful and elegant footballer.
CM: Federico Valverde – 8/10 – The true definition of a box-to-box midfielder against Braga, motoring forward at any opportunity to support the attack. Barely put a foot wrong in a commanding display.
AM: Brahim Diaz – 8/10 – Madrid’s sharpest threat throughout the first half, dazzling with his fast feet and quick turns. Capped an impressive outing with a nicely-taken goal.
ST: Rodrygo – 8/10 – Silenced a few critics with a splendid performance at the Bernabeu. Provided the assist for Diaz’s opener and took his goal majestically, delicately dinking over the Braga goalkeeper after a sublime first touch. Lively throughout and caused the visitors plenty of problems.
ST: Vinicius Jr. – 8/10 – Not at his devastating best in the first half but undoubtedly grew into the game. Excellent in the second half, taking his goal beautifully and setting Rodrygo up with an inch-perfect through ball. Terrorised the Braga backline.
Substitutes
SUB: Luka Modric (74′ for Diaz) – 6/10
SUB: Dani Carvajal (74′ for Vazquez) – 6/10
SUB: Joselu (77′ for Rodrygo) – 6/10
SUB: Nicolas Paz (77′ for Valverde) – 6/10
SUB: Fran Garcia (84′ for Mendy) – N/A
Subs not used: Pineiro (GK), Alaba, Bellingham, Guler.
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti – 7/10 – Had to cope without the influential Jude Bellingham, with Diaz stepping into his shoes in an impressive display. A comfortable evening for his Madrid side.
Player of the match: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
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