Staff Reporter.
Record 14-time winners Real Madrid swanned into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Braga to maintain their 100 percent record.
Brahim Diaz got on the end of Rodrygo’s cutback and fired into the roof of the net to open the scoring.
Vinicius Jr slotted into the bottom corner after skipping past the Braga defence before setting up Rodrygo, who dinked the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper Matheus.
Real advanced to the knockout stages for the 26th consecutive season.
Braga missed the chance to go ahead when Alvaro Djalo’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin after Lucas Vazquez fouled Cristian Borja in the area.
Diaz also had a goal disallowed, with Vinicius committing a foul in the build-up.
“I’m doing my thing and showing that I can perform, and help the coach,” Diaz told reporters.
“There are very good players here but I’m showing that I can handle more minutes — bit by bit, everything comes.”
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are now unbeaten in their last nine home games in the Champions League.
Job done ✔️#UCL pic.twitter.com/8BNfNXnkhu
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 8, 2023
Jude Bellingham was on the bench for Real because of a shoulder problem, the first time since he joined the club that he has not started a Champions League match.