Real Madrid make it three wins from three in the Champions League after a 2-1 win at Braga
Real Madrid make it three wins from three in the Champions League after a 2-1 win at Braga.
Facing the Portuguese outfit for the first time in the club’s history, Real Madrid started the game in less-than exhilarating fashion, clearly missing the focal point at the top of their attack that Karim Benzema provided for so many years before his departure to Al Ittihad in the summer.
Ancelotti has been forced into an alteration of his tactics since the loss of the Frenchman, and it was Los Blancos’ makeshift forward line which combined to give the visitors the lead in Northern Portugal, although centre-back Nacho Fernandez delivered a beautiful ball up the pitch to kick-start the attack.
The Spanish centre-back pass found the feet of Vinicius Jr, who raced past Serdar Saatci on the wing before firing a low cross into the path of Rodrygo, with the Brazilian getting ahead of Sikou Niakate and poking home, meaning the 22-year-old has now opened his account in this year’s competition.
With target man Joselu missing from the XI, Madrid were often patient in their build up before launching long balls as they attempted to take advantage of a dangerously-high line from Braga, who Artur Jorge had set up to try to earn a historic maximum against the 14-time European champions.
Eduardo Camavinga was often afforded plenty of space in the middle of the park, and one of the youngster’s galloping runs proceeded a through ball to Vinicius who provided a tap-in for goalscorer Rodrygo, however the former was offside in the initial phase of play.
After a relatively quiet first half in terms of clear-cut chances, Estadio Municipal de Braga soon became the playground of Bellingham in the second period, with the England international bagging his third Champions League goal of the term in his usual classy fashion.
Vinicius received the ball on the left flank and faked an effort to beat his man on the byline before laying the ball back on the edge of the box to the former Borussia Dortmund man, who produced a composed curling effort into the bottom-right corner, beating the outstretched Matheus in the Braga net.
As Bellingham performed his trademark celebration in front of the travelling Madrid support, it felt as if the contest and subsequent points were wrapped up, however Jorge’s men were back in contention for a result just two minutes later.
Swede Josafat Mendes raced down the wing from right-back for Braga and swung in a looping cross to target man Simon Banza, and the 27-year-old did superbly to control the ball and find the run of Spaniard Djalo, who fired his strike into past Kepa Arrizabalaga at his near post.
After getting onto the scoresheet, the Primeira Liga outfit side grewly into the contest significantly and had chances to draw level, with captain Ricardo Horta’s close-range shot being punched sidewards by the Los Blancos keeper – thankfully for the Madridistas the ball dribbled out for a corner.
More to follow.
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