By Fernando Kallas
MADRID (Reuters) – Holders Real Madrid hammered RB Salzburg 5-1 in a Champions League clash in the Spanish capital on Wednesday thanks to doubles from Brazilian forwards Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr either side of a goal by Kylian Mbappe.
Rodrygo opened the scoring with a tidy finish from a Vinicius cross in the 23rd minute and extended the home side’s lead in the 34th, curling home a shot from inside the box after a brilliant back heel flick from Jude Bellingham.
Mbappe took advantage of a massive blunder by Salzburg goalkeeper and captain Janis Blaswich to score the third in the 48th minute, while Vinicius made two magnificent runs in the 55th and 77th minutes to extend Real’s lead.
Mads Bidstrup scored the visitors’ consolation goal in the 85th minute.
Last year’s champions Real Madrid are 16th in the standings on 12 points and have secured qualification for the next round, but would need to win their last game at Brest and rely on other results to earn a top-eight finish and avoid a two-legged playoff.
Salzburg are 34th, third from bottom, eliminated from the competition with only three points from seven games.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
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