Real Madrid vs Braga: A Dominant Display by the Spanish Giants
Real Madrid secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a convincing 3-0 win over Braga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. The hosts scored three goals in the second half, courtesy of Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes, to maintain their perfect record in Group C.
First Half: A Missed Penalty and a Yellow Card
The first half was a tense affair, with both teams trying to break the deadlock. Braga had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the fourth minute, when they were awarded a penalty after Lucas Vazquez fouled Cristian Borja in the box. However, Alvaro Djalo’s spot-kick was saved by Thibaut Courtois, who dived to his left and parried the ball away.
Vazquez was shown a yellow card for his challenge, and he was lucky to avoid a second booking later in the half, when he brought down Ricardo Horta on the edge of the area. The referee decided to give him a final warning, much to the dismay of the Braga players and coach.
Real Madrid had more possession and shots in the first half, but they struggled to find the final touch. Federico Valverde, Brahim Diaz and Antonio Rudiger all missed the target with their headers, while Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo had their shots blocked by the Braga defense. The visitors also had some chances, with Vitor Carvalho and Sikou Niakate testing Courtois with their efforts.
The half ended goalless, with Real Madrid frustrated by their lack of finishing and Braga relieved by their goalkeeper’s heroics.
Second Half: A Goal Fest by the Home Team
The second half was a different story, as Real Madrid turned on the style and scored three goals in quick succession. The breakthrough came in the 27th minute, when Brahim Diaz received a pass from Rodrygo and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from the center of the box, which flew into the top left corner of the net. It was his first goal in the Champions League, and he celebrated with his teammates and the fans.
The second goal came just four minutes later, when Vinicius Junior doubled the lead with a brilliant solo effort. The Brazilian winger dribbled past two defenders on the left flank, cut inside the box and curled a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the goal. It was his third goal in the competition, and he showed his trademark smile and dance moves.
The third and final goal came in the 76th minute, when Rodrygo completed the scoring with a simple tap-in. The young forward was set up by Joselu, who had come on as a substitute for Rodrygo. The Spaniard made a run on the right wing and crossed the ball to the far post, where Rodrygo was waiting to slot it home. It was his second goal in the Champions League, and he hugged Joselu and thanked him for the assist.
Final Whistle: A Comfortable Win and a Round of Applause
The final whistle blew, and Real Madrid celebrated their win and their qualification to the knockout stage. They had 17 shots, eight of them on target, and 52% of possession, while Braga had only five shots, three of them on target, and 48% of possession¹. The home team also had seven corner kicks, compared to two for the away team¹.
The Real Madrid players and coach Carlo Ancelotti received a round of applause from the crowd, who appreciated their performance and their dominance. The Braga players and coach Artur Jorge looked dejected and disappointed, as they had failed to put up a fight and had suffered their third defeat in the group.
The result meant that Real Madrid topped Group C with 12 points from four games, while Braga remained at the bottom with zero points from four games¹. The other two teams in the group, Bayern Munich and Arsenal, also qualified for the last 16, after they beat each other in their respective matches²³⁴.
Real Madrid will now look forward to their next game in the Champions League, which will be against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on November 22. Braga will try to salvage some pride and points in their next game, which will be against Bayern Munich at the Estadio Municipal de Braga on the same day.
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