Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham scored in each half for Real Madrid in a 2-1 win over Sporting Braga on Tuesday, keeping their team three points clear at the top of Champions League Group C. Real Madrid got closer to securing a place in the knockout stage with the victory. Bellingham scored his 11th goal in 12 games since joining Real Madrid, helping the 14-time European champion take the away win and extend its lead in Group C. Madrid has nine points from three games, three more than Napoli, which beat winless Union Berlin 1-0. Braga remained third with three points.
A win over Braga at home in the next round in November will ensure Madrid’s place in the knockout stage for the 28th time in a row. Braga has never progressed beyond the group stage. The Portuguese team is making its third appearance in the Champions League and its first in 11 years.
The 22-year-old Rodrygo, who had not scored since August, put Madrid ahead in the 16th minute with a shot from inside the area following a run down the left flank by Vinicius Junior, and Bellingham doubled the lead in the 61st with a low effort into the far corner following another assist by Vinicius. Rodrygo and Vinicius of Brazil each had goals disallowed for offside, one in each half.
The 20-year-old Bellingham has yet to score in consecutive games for Madrid. For the second season in a row, the Englishman has scored in each of the first three Champions League matchdays, having done so with Borussia Dortmund in 2022-23. The English midfielder dictated the tempo of the game in midfield, allowing Madrid to dominate early on. Braga, who had won five consecutive games in all competitions, had no shots on goal in the first half. After halftime, the hosts improved and challenged Madrid until the finish, but they failed to capitalize on a few late chances.
Madrid will now turn its attention to Saturday’s meeting against Barcelona in the first ‘El Clasico’ of the Spanish league season. Bellingham was removed late in the game against Braga due to evident muscle soreness, but Ancelotti claimed it didn’t appear to be a significant issue. We were in control of the game after Bellingham’s goal, but conceding changed the dynamics, Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said. Ancelotti wasn’t able to count on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, defender Eder Militao, and midfielder Arda Guler because of injuries.
