Into the Champions League Round of 16

Real Madrid beat Braga at the Santiago Bernabéu to pick up their fourth consecutive win in the Champions League and seal their place in the Round of 16. Brahim set the team on the way in the first half, stroking home from a Rodrygo pass, before the other two goals arrived in a stunning second half. Vini Jr. extended the lead with 58 on the clock and Rodrygo made it three with an exquisite chip three minutes later. Our team only need a point against Napoli next time out to secure top spot in the group.

The game got underway at a break-neck pace and with only five minutes gone, Braga could have been in front. Cristian Borja was brought down in the box by Lucas Vázquez and Djaló stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to be kept out by Lunin, who guessed the right way and saved brilliantly. The madridista reaction came six minutes later, when Brahim had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was ruled out for a Vini Jr. foul on Niakaté in the build-up. Just over quarter-of-an-hour into the game, our team had another good chance, following a swift counter-attack that ended with Vini Jr.'s gorgeous ball with the outside of his right boot being turned towards goal by Valverde.

Ancelotti's boys continued to stream forward in search of the opener, and they duly got their reward with 27 minutes gone. Rodrygo raced to the by-line and pulled back for Brahim, who tucked the ball home with his left foot from inside the box. Before the whistle went for half-time, it could have been two, but Rodrygo's vicious shot on 41’ was superbly saved by Matheus. The game remained much the same when the players emerged for the second half. Madrid began to enjoy even greater dominance as the minutes ticked by, crafting another chance when Kroos' corner on 46’ was met by a firm Nacho header than ended up in the goalkeeper's gloves.

The best spell
Brahim then had an even better chance, two in fact, with a rapid counter on 55’. Vini Jr. played him through one-on-one with Matheus, who was sharper than the Spaniard at the first time of asking. The ricochet fell back at the Malaga man's feet, but his effort crashed off Niakaté. That was the build-up for the second goal of the game, which was also the result of a slick Madrid transition. Lucas Vázquez laid the ball to Vini Jr. this time, who took it in his stride and whipped a neat finish into the corner with 58 minutes gone.

Fifth clean sheet in a row at the Bernabéu
Our team were on fire now and three minutes later, they were three up thanks to another lethal counter. Vini Jr. set up Rodrygo, who finished with a sublime chip over the goalkeeper. Rodrygo and Valverde both had further chances on 64’ and 65’, but both shots ended up in the side-netting. From that point to the end, our boys continued to cause problems, while remaining solid at the back to notch a fifth successive clean sheet at the Bernabéu. There was even time for academy graduate Nico Paz to make his debut with 77 minutes on the clock.