In a thrilling Champions League encounter on a chilly night in northern Portugal, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham showcased their talent, securing a 2-1 victory against Sporting Braga. This victory keeps the Spanish giants three points clear at the top of Group C.
The match, although not one for the history books, was marked by the dominance of Real Madrid right from the start. In the 16th minute, Rodrygo opened the scoring with a close-range strike, displaying precision and finesse. The goal was a testament to the Brazilian connection on the field. Follow your favourite Champions League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
Vinicius Jr, known for his blazing speed, darted up the left wing, delivering a perfect ball to Rodrygo. With a sliding first touch inside the six-yard box, Rodrygo made no mistake and found the back of the net.
Real Madrid had ample opportunities to extend their lead, with Vinicius Jr often caught offside while playing on the shoulder of Braga’s high defensive line. Their wastefulness in front of the goal left fans wondering if they would capitalize on their dominance.
However, the answer came in the 61st minute. Rodrygo cleverly beat the offside trap and spotted Vinicius making a stealthy run behind the defense on the left. Vinicius collected the through ball and then set up Jude Bellingham, who executed a beautiful curling strike from the edge of the box. The ball found its way just inside the far post, leaving the Braga goalkeeper with no chance.
This goal marked a milestone for Jude Bellingham, his 10th in 11 games across all competitions this season. He joined the elite company of Real Madrid players who have scored in each of their first three Champions League games, a feat previously achieved by Christian Karembeu in 1998.
Sporting Braga managed to pull one back in the 63rd minute when Alvaro Djalo capitalized on a defensive mistake to score in the area. The goal briefly injected some hope for the home side, but Real Madrid held on, thanks in part to two remarkable saves by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Vinicius Jr summed up the match by saying, “We had to suffer more than expected in the end, but it’s normal to suffer away from home, especially in the Champions League. The important thing is that we won. We played well, although it’s true that we could have scored more goals.”
With this victory, Real Madrid maintains a perfect record in their group, having won all three of their matches. They lead the pack with nine points, followed by Napoli, which secured a 1-0 win against Union Berlin. Braga is in third place with three points and will be looking to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
In the world of football, the Spanish giants have made their presence known once again, and fans are eager to see if they can maintain this impressive run in the Champions League. Get the latest updates from the world of football only on Nextbet Sports.
