Vinicius Jr delivered a masterclass on Thursday night, scoring one goal and assisting another as Real Madrid stormed to a 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg to clinch top spot in Group H and advance to the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16.
The win sees the Spanish giants finish with seven points, two ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, who earlier defeated Pachuca 2-0. Austria’s RB Salzburg exited the tournament with four points, while Mexico’s Pachuca crashed out without securing a single point.
Real Madrid dominated from kickoff but had to remain patient before breaking the deadlock. The breakthrough finally came in the 40th minute when Jude Bellingham slipped a precision pass to Vinicius Jr, who danced past two Salzburg defenders and rifled a low shot from the edge of the box, leaving goalkeeper Zawieschitzky rooted to the spot.
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Moments later, in first-half stoppage time, Vinicius once again showcased his flair. Picking up a loose ball in the area, he delivered an audacious back-heel assist to Federico Valverde, who slotted home from close range to double Madrid’s lead before the break.
Despite maintaining control throughout the second half, Real Madrid were guilty of squandering several clear-cut chances. It wasn’t until the 84th minute that substitute Gonzalo Garcia put the game beyond reach. Racing onto a quick counterattack, he calmly chipped the Salzburg keeper to make it 3-0, sealing Madrid’s place atop the group in style.
The result reinforces Real Madrid’s status as one of the tournament favorites, with Vinicius Jr’s explosive performance adding to the growing momentum behind Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. With the knockout stage on the horizon, the 14-time UEFA Champions League winners are looking every bit as dangerous on the world stage as they are in Europe.
