Thursday 28 / November / 2024
Madrid: Real Madrid made it three wins from their opening three UEFA Champions League group stage matches with a 2-1 win away against Braga.
The hosts started brightly with their speed and skill in attack particularly from Ricardo Horta and Alvaro Djalo.
But on 15 minutes, Los Blancos were ahead. Vinicius, with space down the left, turned his marker inside out before crossing in for his compatriot Rodrygo who was on hand to tap the ball home, the Spanish MARCA newspaper reported.
On 23 minutes, Braga had a decent chance as a Horta looked to fire towards goal after a knockdown fell his way, but Camavinga was able to block.
At the other end, Vinicius began to find space and impose himself even more on the game. The winger found himself in space and fired a shot from the angle of the box which needed palming away from the goalkeeper Matheus.
Vinicius then came close again. Carvajal's long throw played in the Brazilian who, with the goalkeeper off his line, tried to chip him but he got the effort wrong and it went harmlessly wide.
Early in the second half, Jude Bellingham began to stamp his authority on the game. His left-footed half-volley forced Matheus into a save, before Camavinga's right-footed shot also needed dealing with.
On the hour mark, Bellingham eventually got his goal as Vinicius cut the ball back to the edge of the box where the Englishman was waiting. The youngster controlled it with one touch and then passed it into the net with another for 2-0.
But it wasn't game-over just yet, as Braga went on to halve the deficit from kick-off, with Djalo smashing the ball beyond Kepa at the near post.
The equaliser so nearly came on 69 minutes. Djalo found Horta in the box, but Kepa was there to save it unconventionally, and out for a corner.
Despite a late onslaught from the hosts, with Abel Ruiz going close late on, Real Madrid held on to continue their perfect start to the Champions League.
