Real Madrid improved its classification in the Champions League with a win against Salzburg, one of the weakest teams in the competition, which appeared at the Bernabéu with only three points and a new coach, Thomas Letsch. The Austrian team had not competed since December 14 and it was noticeable. Madrid got bored in the first half and danced in the second.
Ancelotti’s men did not need an excellent game by any means and were far from the image offered against Las Palmas. In fact, Madrid played a good part of the first half at a low intensity, as if they didn’t know they were risking their lives for their favorite trophy.
Ancelotti’s eleven
Valverde as a full-back
Ancelotti had the team more or less in good order with the exception of Valverde playing at right back due to the suspension of Lucas Vázquez. In the center of the field he opted for Modric instead of the recovered Tchouaméni and the Croatian was accompanied by Ceballos, now irreplaceable, and Bellingham.
Upstairs the novelty was seeing Vinícius, who will still not be able to play in the League on Saturday against Valladolid, more focused, often too close to Kylian Mbappé.
In any case, the night belonged to Rodrygo, who in the Champions League lives in his perfect ecosystem. It was Madrid’s best by far, unstoppable for Salzburg and author of a double in the first half.
Salzburg
The weakest rival
Salzburg started with the audacity of those who have nothing to lose. He has only scored three goals in the Champions League but that did not stop him from going high and keeping the ball in the first quarter now, taking advantage of a certain indolence on the part of the whites.
The visitors only had one chance, a cross shot by the Israeli Gloukh, their most quality player, which went just wide. It was a scare for the Bernabéu but it soon became nothing more than that, a scare, because Madrid scored in their first serious approach, at 23 minutes, a pass from Vinícius to Bellingham that did not find the Englishman but did find Rodrygo entering from behind and skillfully beating the Austrian goalkeeper.
Vinícius
He saw a card for simulating a penalty and will not play against Brest
The second goal would soon come and the best of the first half. In the 34th minute Bellingham pulled a backheel out of his hat that left Rodrygo in a good position and he finished the play with a great shot that made it 2-0. Going to half-time without further punishment against Madrid was a small ordeal for Salzburg, but not only did Madrid not increase the lead, but Vinícius went back to his old ways and received a yellow card for simulating a penalty under the Swedish referee’s nose. The card has consequences because Madrid’s number 7 will not be able to play against Brest next Wednesday in the last game of the league.
The second half began in the same way that the first half had begun, with Salzburg dominating the ball and Madrid watching them come, somewhat retreating. However, three minutes after the restart Madrid scored again after a monumental error by goalkeeper Blaswich, who tried to dribble past Mbappé. The Frenchman took the ball from him like a schoolboy and scored 3-0 into an empty net.
The second part
The Austrian goalkeeper gave Mbappé a goal
The goal gave way to a celebration from Madrid, who began to like themselves against a rival whose morale was already at rock bottom. At 55, the genius of Vinícius, until then completely missing, suddenly emerged. The Brazilian starred in one of the house’s trademark demarrajes, he ran away from everyone who came in his way and scored with a right foot.
The changes came immediately. Alaba and Arda Güller entered and Bellingham and Ceballos left. Valverde moved to the center of the field. Then it was the turn of Brahim and Endrick for Mbappé and Rodrygo.
The last 20 minutes were played with Salzburg bottled up in their area. Blaswich denied Brahim the goal in his best save of the night but he couldn’t do anything to avoid the handball after a great pass from Valverde and a pass to Vinícius, who dribbled past the center back and finished. When the occasional goal from the Whites was still expected, in the 85th minute, the goal of Austrian honor came in a mistake in marking by the defense and a volley from the Dane Bidstrup that beat Courtois. Madrid must win next Wednesday in Brest and wait for a rival for the play-offs.
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