Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid easily took the measure of a willing but too limited RB Salzburg (5-1). Rodrygo scored a superb double in the first, as did Vinicius in the second. Not very influential, Kylian Mbappé scored with a touch of success.
Real Madrid are 16th with one day remaining and if this is not the place hoped for at the start of the European campaign, the possibility of entering the Top 8 at the last minute remains. RB Salzburg is at the bottom of the class but the victory with 4 goals difference (5-1) opens possibilities for Casa Blanca who will face Brest next week.
Rodrygo, the fatal weapon
Certainly, at Real MadridThere is Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr et Jude Bellingham. But there is also Rodrygo. Certainly the most discreet of the 4 but not the least talented. Scorer on a direct free kick during the Clásico lost in the Spanish Super Cup, then against Las Palmas in La Liga at the end of a remarkable match, the Brazilian scored twice in the first half. And in two diametrically opposed situations, literally and figuratively.
While the RB Salzburg played their luck bravely, without asking Thibaut Courtois unduly, however, Real Madrid evolved in their favorite register, that of transition. An interception in front of the surface, a support from Mbappé and an opening to the right from Vinicius and there is guaranteed danger. If Bellingham was unable to control the ball, Rodrygo arrived in the second half to strike cross without control of the right (23rd).
Technically, the gesture was perfect. But there was even better. This time, the action took place on the left side. Rodrygo called on Bellingham for the one-two. With a bright backheel, the Englishman found his teammate who hit the opposite net with a first-intention whipped shot (34th).
Lucky Mbappé
The Austrians found themselves at half-time like many players before them: they did not miss out, quite the contrary, but they returned to the locker room with two goals in hand.
-But if, in addition, there are gifts… Launched full axis by Rodrygo, Mbappé completely missed his control of the left; but like goalkeeper Janis Blaswich too, the Frenchman was able to take the opportunity to recover the ball and score in the empty goal (48th).
The seams were popping everywhere on the Salzburg side. Put into orbit by Luka Modric on the left side, Vinicius accelerated before returning to his foot and sending an unstoppable bag (55th). Warned in the first period, the Brazilian will be absent at Roudourou against Brest…
4 shots on target, 4 goals: the madridistas couldn’t do better in terms of realism. Carlo Ancelotti took out three of the four galactics and left Vinicius, suspended in La Liga next weekend. He didn’t regret it. At the end of a movement started from Courtois, the Brazilian was ideally served by Fede Valverde before finishing the job with a right hook and a left shot (77th).
Despite the rout, RB Salzburg saved their honor and in a very good way. Receiving a diving cross from Amar Dedic, Mads Bidstrup slammed a perfect volley under the bar (85th).
No clean sheet for Real Madrid for the 4th consecutive match, the only cloud in a largely controlled match.
