Real Madrid reaffirmed their status as the “Kings of Europe” with a resounding 5-1 victory over Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Despite initial struggles in the revamped 36-team format, which saw them drop to 22nd, the defending champions showcased their resilience and firepower at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Brazilian stars Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior stole the show, contributing four of Real’s five goals. Rodrygo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a clinical finish from Vinícius’s pass. Ten minutes later, he doubled the lead with a spectacular strike, assisted by Jude Bellingham’s sublime backheel. Real went into halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead.
The second half was all about Real’s dominance. Kylian Mbappé pounced on a Salzburg defensive error to make it 3-0 in the 48th minute. Vinícius then added two more, including a brilliant counterattack goal in the 77th minute. Salzburg’s late strike was merely a consolation. The victory catapulted Real to 16th place on the table with 12 points from seven matches, securing a spot in the knockout playoffs.
Elsewhere, the night was a mix of triumphs and shocks. Bayern Munich suffered a stunning 3-0 loss to Feyenoord, while Arsenal cruised past Dinamo Zagreb 3-0. Inter Milan and AC Milan both edged 1-0 wins against Sparta Prague and Girona, respectively.
As the revamped Champions League heats up, Real Madrid’s emphatic win is a reminder of their unmatched pedigree in European football.
