Brimming with brilliance, Real Madrid danced their way into the round of 16 in the Champions League, leaving their Portuguese opponents, Braga, bewildered in their wake. A symphony of soccer magic unfolded as Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo orchestrated a 3-0 triumph under the midweek lights.
In a bold move, Real’s maestro, Carlo Ancelotti, opted to rest some of his key players, giving others a chance to shine. And shine they did. The 14-time champions proved indomitable, maintaining their pristine record with 12 points from four group stage encounters. With two group games to spare, they’re tantalizingly close to securing the coveted top spot. A solitary point in their next clash with Napoli could seal the deal.
It was a night filled with drama. Lucas Vazquez set hearts pounding early on when he embraced Braga’s Cristian Borja a little too closely inside the box, gifting the visitors a penalty. But Real’s guardian angel, Andriy Lunin, stood tall, palming away Alvaro Djalo’s timid attempt from the spot.
The Galacticos swiftly regained control, with Brahim Diaz striking the first lyrical note in the 27th minute, sending the ball home with the elegance of a seasoned virtuoso.
As the night progressed, the home team’s dominance painted a masterpiece on the canvas of the Bernabeu. Vinicius Junior added another stroke of genius, gently caressing the ball into the back of the net from inside the box in the 58th minute. The crowd was serenaded with applause.
But the pièce de résistance arrived just three minutes later. Rodrygo, brimming with Brazilian flair, treated the audience to a scintillating chip that left the Braga keeper grasping at thin air. The applause cascaded like a waterfall of appreciation.
In the 20th minute, Lucas Vazquez flirted with controversy as he engaged in a high-stakes tango inside the box with Braga’s Bruma. Some thought the referee might call for a penalty and a second yellow card for Vazquez, but fortune smiled upon him.
Braga’s hopes of a revival were swiftly quashed, and Real Madrid’s rhythm never wavered. Diaz, who had an earlier composition disallowed for a foul, once again seized the spotlight with a first-time strike in the 27th minute, choreographed by Rodrygo’s artful low cross.
Diaz nearly extended the sonata in the 55th minute, but Matheus, Braga’s guardian between the posts, responded with two instinctive saves, denying the Spanish midfielder’s encore from close quarters.
Matheus continued to be the guardian of Braga’s dreams, thwarting a thunderous Rodrygo strike from the edge of the box. Still, Vinicius Junior orchestrated the crescendo in the 58th minute, collecting a low cross from Vazquez and delivering a tidy finish from the heart of the stage.
Three minutes later, Vinicius led a breathtaking counter-attack and showcased his Brazilian compatriot, Rodrygo, who executed a lob over the goalkeeper with the grace of a trapeze artist, securing the encore with a flourish.
As the final whistle blew, the maestro of the evening, Rodrygo, spoke his soliloquy, “The truth is that I am delighted. It was a perfect game, three goals, we didn’t concede… I’m happy for the goal, the assist, and, of course, for the win and the qualification, which was the most important thing. We have a lot of quality in our squad that is so deep. If we have a good day, it’s difficult to prevent us from scoring. Today went very well, and we hope it continues like this for the next games.”
The Bernabeu echoed with applause, celebrating a symphony of soccer artistry orchestrated by Real Madrid’s rising stars.