Real Madrid advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Braga on Wednesday, keeping their perfect record intact.
Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo Goes scored for the Spanish giants, who advanced from Group C despite being without injured top scorer Jude Bellingham.
Vinicius and Rodrygo, both Brazilian wingers, have been chastised for their lack of goals this season, but both reacted with beautiful finishes to help their club advance after Diaz opened the scoring. Reported by supersport
Madrid has four wins in four games and leads the group by 12 points over Napoli, who is second on seven points following a 1-1 draw with bottom team Union Berlin.
Madrid has now reached the knockout stage in 26 successive tournaments.
“It tells me that Real Madrid have done better than others in this competition, because getting through the group is not always that simple,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said to reporters.
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“We are very happy to reach the last 16, but it doesn’t mean we’re going to switch off in the last two games because for us, all Champions League games are there to show our best level in.”
Lucas Vazquez had brought Cristian Borja down in the area, but the Portuguese side were unable to capitalize.
Diaz had a goal ruled off for a foul by Vinicius at the opposite end, but the former Manchester City midfielder did not have to wait long for another, this time genuine.
Rodrygo received the ball on the left side of the area and cut it back to Diaz, who shot into the roof of the net from close range to break the tie.
DIAZ’S GOAL
The 24-year-old broke out into sarcastic celebration, drawing a VAR screen as if to dare the officials to try and disallow this strike.
Bellingham, who has netted 13 times in 14 games since his summer switch, watched on from the bench as Ancelotti let him recover from a shoulder problem he suffered in the Rayo draw.
Diaz should have struck again but was denied by a superb double save from Benfica goalkeeper Matheus early in the second half.
“I’m doing my thing and showing that I can perform, and help the coach,” Diaz told reporters.
“There are very good players here but I’m showing that I can handle more minutes — bit by bit, everything comes.”
DOUBLE ACT IN BRITAIN
Vinicius scored his second goal just before the hour mark, with some great movement and feet in the box followed by a low finish.
It was his fourth goal of the season in all competitions in 12 games, which is low by his own standards, but Ancelotti believes he and Rodrygo will outscore Bellingham by the end of the season.
Rodrygo scored Madrid’s third goal with an amazing chipped finish after his compatriot Vinicius set him up, and he celebrated by embracing Ancelotti on the sideline.
The coach had urged patience for his dynamic front-line combo, and both rewarded him with goals that delighted the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.
“(The hug) was to say thank you to him,” Rodrygo added. “We must judge people when we are not present.”
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