On Tuesday, Real Madrid defeated Braga 2-1 away from home in Portugal in a match that was played in the Champions League. Jude Bellingham scored his third goal in as many games for Real Madrid in the competition.
Real Madrid took the lead thanks to a goal from Rodrygo, and England international Kyle Bellingham made it 2-0 just after the hour mark. Carlo Ancelotti’s team was able to maintain their advantage despite a goal by Alvaro Djalo for Braga.
As a result of the result, Madrid is now in a great position, having earned all nine points possible from their first three games in Group C. They are currently three points clear of Napoli, who won their match against Union Berlin 1-0 away from home in Germany.
After a tense first few minutes, Nacho found Vinicius on the left side of the pitch, and the Brazilian bullied Serdar Saatci before finding Rodrygo sliding in to score the game’s first goal for Real Madrid after 16 minutes of play.
When Rodrygo put the ball into an empty net 10 minutes before halftime, Madrid momentarily believed they had doubled their lead. However, Vinicius had strayed offside as Eduardo Camavinga sent him in at the halfway line. This caused Rodrygo to miss the opportunity to score.
After being set up by Vinicius, Bellingham extended Madrid’s advantage at the 61-minute mark by stroking the ball into the bottom corner of the goal from the edge of the area. Vinicius had set him up.
It was his 11th goal in all competitions for Real since he joined the club from Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of this season. Real are the record 14-time winners of the European Championship.
Djalo then blasted a near-post drive past Kepa Arrizabalaga to cut the away team’s deficit in half for the home side just a minute and a half later.
After that, Braga brought out the deadly Bruma, who was only considered fit enough to come off the bench and start the game. After 70 minutes, the adjustment came close to paying off when Arrizabalaga made a save on a drive by Ricardo Horta that went just wide of the goal.
In the 82nd minute, when Madrid was trying to put the game away, Vinicius thought he had scored a goal to add to the two assists he already had, but the assistant’s flag prevented him from doing so.
As Madrid ground out a hard-fought victory, Braga’s last hope for an equaliser was a VAR check for a penalty in the 89th minute. Madrid ultimately came out on top.
When they play Braga in the second match, which will take place on November 8, the Spanish team will be trying to secure a spot for themselves in the round of 16.
Rodrygo, a Brazilian attacker who was given the opportunity to start up front, will be hoping that his goal will secure his spot in the starting XI for Saturday’s Clasico, which will be played away at Barcelona.