Braga vs Real Madrid: Bellingham turns up again as Los Blancos stay group leaders

Braga vs Real Madrid: Bellingham turns up again as Los Blancos stay group leaders

Faruq Ibrahim 22:03 - 24.10.2023

Real Madrid sidestepped Portuguese side Braga to maintain their position as table-toppers in Group C.

Real Madrid avoided a late scare from Braga thanks to goals from Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham to stay top of their Champions League group.

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Los Blancos returned to UCL action after beating Napoli last time out as they travelled to the Estádio Municipal de Braga to face the Braguistas. It was another win away from home for Ancelotti's side after conquering the Partenopei at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium a few weeks ago.

How it happened

The 14-time champions started slowly, gradually playing their way into the game in a foggy stadium. 

The Portuguese side threatened to pull ahead, combining well all over the pitch and arriving in the Real Madrid area in numbers, but they lacked that bit of quality.

It was the visitors who broke the deadlock however when Rodrygo made a centre-forward run to the near post to poke in a Vinicus Jr low cross.

Real Madrid celebrating a goal || Image credit: Imago
Real Madrid celebrating a goal || Image credit: Imago

Vinicius found Rodrygo again and the Brazilian put the ball in the back of the net, but the celebrations were cut short as the goal was deemed illegal due to offside in the build-up.

Braga pressed for an equaliser all half and even at the start of the second 45, but it was the visitors who got the second goal of the game when Bellingham passed the ball into the bottom right corner from around the edge of the box.

Braga responded almost immediately when Alvaro Djalo beat Kepa at his next post. The host pushed to level the tile, but Ancelotti's men held on to maximum points.

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