By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 27, 2025 05:06 AM • 124 views
On a rain-soaked night at Lincoln Financial Field, Vinicius Jr turned on the style, scoring one and assisting another as Real Madrid dispatched RB Salzburg 3-0 to claim the top spot in Group H and book a last-16 showdown with Juventus in the Club World Cup.
The result sees the Spanish giants finish on seven points, two ahead of Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, who sealed second place with a 2-0 win over Pachuca. Both Salzburg and Pachuca now exit the tournament, the latter without a single point to their name.
Under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos showcased both flair and composure against an energetic but ultimately outclassed Salzburg. Despite a few early scares, including a fine point-blank save by 18-year-old Austrian keeper Christian Zawieschitzky to deny Vinicius inside the opening 10 minutes, Madrid gradually asserted their dominance.
The breakthrough came just before the interval. Jude Bellingham—ever the orchestrator—slipped a perfectly timed ball through the heart of Salzburg's defence. Vinicius took over with trademark finesse, gliding past two defenders before rifling a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
Moments later, the Brazilian added another line to his highlight reel. Capitalizing on a loose ball in the area, Vinicius executed a deft backheel assist that Federico Valverde gleefully smashed home to make it 2-0 before the half-time whistle.
The second half saw Real Madrid manage proceedings without needing to force the issue. Salzburg, struggling to string together meaningful passages of play, rarely threatened. The third and final goal came in the 84th minute when Gonzalo Garcia, having missed a golden chance in the first half, made amends by chipping over the onrushing Zawieschitzky after a swift counterattack. Post-match, Vinicius was modest but focused: "I'm pleased with the goal and the assist. But now comes the most important part—the knockouts—and we're looking forward to it." Real Madrid's progression sets up a tantalizing last-16 clash with Juventus at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Tuesday. Al-Hilal, meanwhile, prepares for a daunting encounter with Premier League champions Manchester City in Orlando. Perhaps the most ominous sign for Madrid's rivals? Kylian Mbappé is expected to return. The French star, sidelined through illness during the group stage, rejoined training this week and is on track to feature in the knockouts. Alonso, pragmatic as ever, opted to rest him against Salzburg to ensure full fitness for the battles ahead. "We managed the group phase well," Alonso said post-match. "Now the real tournament begins." With the rain behind them and the business end approaching, Madrid looks primed—not just to compete—but to conquer.
