Real Madrid reached the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup as group winners after a confident 3-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg. The result gave Xabi Alonso his first back-to-back wins as manager and extended the team’s unbeaten run to six matches.
Madrid started strongly, with Vinícius Júnior almost scoring early on, only to be denied by 18-year-old Salzburg keeper Christian Zawieschitzky. Just before half-time, Jude Bellingham played a perfect pass through to Vinícius, who cut inside and finished neatly with his left foot to open the scoring.
In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Vinícius turned provider with a clever backheel for Federico Valverde, who calmly scored Madrid’s second. Salzburg offered little threat in the first half, and their only shot on target was easily saved by Thibaut Courtois.
In the second half, Salzburg had a few chances, including one for substitute Adam Daghim, which Courtois stopped at his near post. Maurits Kjærgaard missed another opportunity by shooting over the bar, and Samson Baidoo had an effort cleared off the line by Bellingham.
Madrid wrapped up the win late on when Gonzalo García chipped the goalkeeper with a composed finish to make it 3-0. Salzburg’s four-match unbeaten run came to an end, and the defeat knocked them out of the tournament.
