In a commanding display at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid showcased their prowess once again in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), securing their spot in the knockout stages with a resounding 3-0 victory over Braga. This triumph extended Madrid’s unbeaten streak at home in European competitions to nine matches.
Braga entered the match hoping to weather the storm in the early stages, and for the initial ten minutes, they managed to hold their ground. However, their fortunes took a turn when Lucas Vázquez fouled Cristian Borja inside the box, granting Braga a golden opportunity to take the lead. Despite the chance, Álvaro Djaló’s penalty was expertly saved by the imposing figure of Andriy Lunin, diving low to his right.
Real Madrid capitalized on Braga’s missed opportunity just before the half-hour mark. The hosts found their rhythm, and their efforts were rewarded with a well-crafted goal. Rodrygo sprinted behind Braga’s defense to reach Ferland Mendy’s precise pass, delivering a cut-back that was calmly slotted home by Brahim Díaz. Braga struggled to mount a significant response, and apart from subdued appeals for another penalty, they showed little intent to get back into the game.
Real Madrid continued to press and doubled their lead just before the hour mark. Vinicius Junior created space inside the box and, although his shot was not the cleanest, it managed to deceive Matheus, finding the corner of the net. The hosts were in a goal-scoring mood and added a third shortly after, with Vinicius involved once more. He provided an assist to Rodrygo, who executed a delightful chip over the advancing Matheus, sealing the victory decisively.
With a comfortable lead, Real Madrid made substitutions, looking ahead to their upcoming match against Valencia. While the substitutions disrupted the flow of the game, the scoring remained at three goals. This convincing victory propelled the 14-time UCL winners into the last-16, while Braga now faces a challenging battle for the second spot in the group against Napoli.