Real Madrid delivered a commanding performance at the Santiago Bernabéu on January 22, 2025, defeating RB Salzburg 5-1 in their UEFA Champions League group stage match. The victory marks a significant turnaround for Madrid after a challenging start to their European campaign.
Real Madrid asserted their dominance early on, with Rodrygo finding the net in the 23rd minute. A skillful backheel assist from Jude Bellingham set up Rodrygo for his second goal just 12 minutes later, leaving Salzburg reeling. Before halftime, Kylian Mbappé capitalized on a defensive lapse to extend Madrid’s lead to 3-0.
The second half saw Vinícius Júnior etch his name in Real Madrid history, scoring his 100th and 101st goals for the club in quick succession, as noted by the BBC. This impressive feat further solidified Madrid’s control over the match.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, RB Salzburg showed resilience, with Mads Bidstrup scoring a consolation goal in the 85th minute. However, it was not enough to alter the outcome, as Real Madrid comfortably secured the win.
This resounding victory puts Real Madrid back on track in their quest for Champions League glory. The team demonstrated their attacking firepower and ability to control the game, providing a much-needed boost in confidence.
Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, discussed the victory in his post-match comments. According to Forbes, Ancelotti emphasized that his team “achieved the objective” which was to “win and try to play a good game”. He acknowledged the team’s impressive offensive output, with 14 goals scored in their last three matches. “Obviously, there is no doubt about the quality of what is up front,” Ancelotti stated.
The Italian manager further elaborated on his team’s strategy, saying, “We tried to fix the rest, because the efficiency we have up front is incredible. The other things have to be fixed. Sometimes we do it well and sometimes less so. But we’re on a good run.”
This commentary from Ancelotti sheds light on his approach to the game against Salzburg and his overall assessment of Real Madrid’s current form. While pleased with their attacking prowess, he acknowledges the need for continued improvement in other areas of their game.
Forward Rodrygo also reflected on the his team’s win. “A very important day for us. A win that gives us a lot of confidence going forward,” he stated, as reported by ESPN. He acknowledged the challenges the team has faced this season, emphasizing the need for consistency in their performance.”Sometimes we go through difficult times. We work hard not to, but it’s not always easy. This season we are failing a bit in games that we can’t fail,” Rodrygo admitted. “I truly believe that it’s always going to be difficult in the Champions League. We need to have a relentless mentality, to score a lot of goals and win a lot of games,” he concluded.
RB Salzburg, while facing a setback, can take away positives from their second-half performance. They will look to regroup and focus on their remaining matches in the competition.
Real Madrid will now shift their attention to their La Liga fixture against Celta Vigo on Saturday, while RB Salzburg prepares for their final Champions League group stage encounter against Sheriff Tiraspol.
