Real Madrid 5-1 RB Salzburg (January 22, 2025) Match Analysis

Holders Real Madrid hammered RB Salzburg 5-1 in a Champions League clash in the Spanish capital on Wednesday thanks to braces from Brazilian forwards Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr either side of a goal by Kylian Mbappé.

Despite the Austrian side dominating early proceedings and causing real problems with their high pressing, Real slowly took control of the action with inspiring performances from their Brazilian duo plus England midfielder Jude Bellingham.

The Spaniards opened the scoring with a quick counter-attack by Vinicius who delivered a long pass across the box destined for Bellingham. But after failing to control the ball in his stride, Rodrygo quickly responded with a first-touch effort just inside the right post in the 23rd minute.

Rodrygo extended the home side’s lead in the 34th minute, slotting home from inside the box after a brilliant back-heel from Bellingham in a fine one-two combination between them.

Mbappé capitalized on a massive blunder from Salzburg’s goalkeeper and captain Janis Blaswichwho failed to dribble the ball past the French striker and instead gifted him the third goal in the 48th minute.

With an easy win well under way, Vinicius began to show up and down the left channel and made two magnificent runs in the 55th and 77th minutes to extend Madrid’s lead.

First he drove a big long pass Luka Modric in his stride to beat one defender at speed and another with a cut inside before firing an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

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Vinicius stroked in the fifth in another quick counter and received one Federico Valverde pass in space and dribbles past two defenders before wrong-footing the goalkeeper.

Mads Bidstrup scored the visitors’ consolation goal in the 85th minute.

After a slow start to their title defense, losing three of their first five matches, Real Madrid are in 16th place on 12 points.

They have secured qualification for the next round, but had to win their last game at Brest and rely on other results to secure a top-eight finish and avoid a two-legged play-off.

“A very important day for us. A win that gives us a lot of confidence going forward,” Rodrygo told Movistar Plus.

“Sometimes we go through difficult times. We work hard not to, but it’s not always easy. This season we fail a little bit in games that we can’t fail.

“I really believe that it will always be difficult in the Champions League. We have to have a relentless mentality, to score a lot of goals and win a lot of games.”

Salzburg are 34th, third from bottom, eliminated from the competition with just three points after seven games.