Real Madrid Reignite Champions League Defense with Dominant Win Over Salzburg. Real Madrid 5-1 RB Salzburg | Champions League

 

Real Madrid 5-1 RB Salzburg | Champions League

Real Madrid revitalized their Champions League defense with an emphatic victory, knocking out Red Bull Salzburg in style.

After a shaky start to their campaign with three losses in six games, Madrid rediscovered their European rhythm. A first-half brace from Rodrygo set the tone, followed by a Kylian Mbappe strike and two goals from Vinicius Jr., who reached an impressive milestone of 101 goals for the club.

The result, coupled with other outcomes, secured Madrid a play-off spot. They now sit just one point away from automatic qualification, with a decisive trip to Brest awaiting on the final matchday.

Salzburg, on the other hand, saw their Champions League journey come to an end after a dismal run, losing six of their seven league-phase matches. A late Mads Bidstrup volley was their only consolation in a game where they needed both victory and favorable results elsewhere to keep their hopes alive.

The Austrian side began with promise at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Oscar Gloukh narrowly missing an early chance. However, Madrid’s stars rose to the occasion.

The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute, courtesy of a swift back-to-front move. Jude Bellingham set up Rodrygo’s angled volley with a clever knockdown from Vinicius’ aerial ball. The Brazilian added another before halftime after a slick one-two with Bellingham, capped off with a superb back-heel assist.

Madrid extended their lead three minutes into the second half, as Mbappe pounced on a blunder by Salzburg keeper Janis Blaswich to tap home. Vinicius Jr. then added his seventh Champions League goal in six games, curling a sublime effort into the net after a pinpoint Luka Modric pass. He rounded off the scoring with a composed finish following a fluid team move starting from Thibaut Courtois.

Champions Rediscover Their Mojo

“We will play and then we will see,” Carlo Ancelotti had remarked, and Real Madrid delivered. By the end of what turned out to be a relatively straightforward evening, the mood had shifted dramatically. The reigning European champions entered the match ranked as the 22nd best team on the continent—teetering on the brink of crisis—but finished six spots higher, once again looking like serious contenders. However, as Ancelotti was quick to emphasize, their hopes hinge on improving their defensive performances.

Madrid entered the match under pressure, sitting on the brink of an unprecedented early exit from the league stage. Yet Salzburg, mired in poor form with 22 goals conceded and just one win in seven, proved ideal opposition.

Despite showing flashes of potential under new manager Thomas Letsch, Salzburg couldn’t sustain their early energy against Madrid’s superior quality.

This win also provided much-needed relief for Carlo Ancelotti, who has faced criticism amid a string of lackluster performances, including a 3-1 home defeat to Milan in their previous Champions League outing.

Madrid’s frontline shone brightly, with Rodrygo’s underrated brilliance complementing the resurgence of Mbappe, who reached 75 Champions League goal involvements, joining an elite group of players.

Vinicius Jr. further underscored his importance, continuing to deliver in big moments as Madrid march on in their quest for European glory.