Club World Cup: Vinícius wakes up and Real Madrid thrashes to meet Juventus in the round of 16

Philadelphia (USA) (EFE).- On the third day he resurrected. Vinícius Jr., very discreet in the first two Club World Cup matches, shone this Thursday with a goal and an assist and Real Madrid thrashed Salzburg 0-3 to meet Juventus in the round of 16.

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The whites, this navy blue night, closed the first phase as leaders of group H with seven points (one draw and two victories) without having been able to count yet on Kylian Mbappé, affected by gastroenteritis but who is already training normally. Madrid will face Juventus in the round of 16 next Tuesday in Miami (USA), a team that finished second in Group G after losing 2-5 to Manchester City.

To the rhythm of Vinícius and Bellingham

There was a threat of a storm in Philadelphia and, 20 minutes before the match started, the forecast was fulfilled with rain and gusts of wind that marked the entire match at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. Xabi Alonso surprised from the start with three center-backs, a formation he habitually used at Bayer Leverkusen, embedding Aurélien Tchouaméni between Antonio Rüdiger (replacement for the suspended Raúl Ausencio) on the right and Dean Huijsen on the left. Salzburg gave up the ball from the first minute and the merengues, with very high pressure and ease to steal in the danger zone, managed the match without problem. One of the most inspired players at the start was Jude Bellingham. The Briton linked up with ease on the right wing with Trent Alexander-Arnold and also initiated Madrid’s first big chance, leaving Vinícius alone in front of the goalkeeper, but the Brazilian’s shot in the 19th minute was saved by a meritorious intervention from Christian Zawieschitzky. The dynamics changed in the middle of the match. After a couple of dangerous approaches, Salzburg gained confidence and stepped forward while Madrid, with some doubts in the back, seemed uncomfortable. But the gaps left behind by Salzburg cost him dearly. Fran García snatched a ball with the Austrians pushing forward, and Bellingham conjured a precise and beautiful pass for Vinícius, who, on the run, cut past an opponent to perfectly cross with his left foot from the edge of the area in the 40th minute. That goal was wonderful for the Brazilian, who hadn’t scored in the tournament until now, hadn’t scored for Madrid since April 16th, and still had time for another gem before halftime. ‘Vini’ once again found space behind the rival defense and, with an exquisite backheel that recalled Guti’s illustrious gesture for Karim Benzema in 2010, left Fede Valverde alone to place the second at will in the 48th minute.

A second half that sealed the victory

With the result in their favor and the pass in their hand, Real Madrid came out with a little less energy in the second half and Salzburg tried, encouraged by the entry of an Adam Daghim with spice up front. The goal that would have given excitement until the end did not arrive, even though Madrid played with fire at times, but Thibaut Courtois had to work hard in an intervention and Bellingham, omnipresent tonight, cleared a ball off the line in a corner. Salzburg risked with nothing more to lose and left a lot of spaces that Madrid exploited on the counterattack until the youth player Gonzalo García scored the 0-3 in the 84th minute with a great shot, chipping it over the goalkeeper. Much applauded and chanted by the Philadelphia fans, Luka Modric entered in the 66th minute and it was also the turn of a Rodrygo who was again a substitute for Alonso. Jacobo Ramón and Brahim Díaz also had minutes for a Madrid that is already only thinking about Juventus. Real Madrid vs. Salzburg match report Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger (Jacobo Ramón, m.66), Dean Huijsen, Aurélien Tchouameni, Fran García; Fede Valverde (Dani Ceballos, m.74), Arda Güler (Luka Modric, m.66), Jude Bellingham (Brahim Díaz, m.82); Vinícius Jr. (Rodrygo, m.66) and Gonzalo García. Coach: Xabi Alonso. Goals: 0-1, m. 40: Vinícius Jr. 0-2, m. 48: Federico Valverde. 0-3, m. 84: Gonzalo García. Referee: Dahane Beida (MAU). No cards were shown. Incidents: match corresponding to the third matchday of Group H of the Club World Cup played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia before 64,811 spectators. Salzburg: Christian Zawieschitzky; Stefan Lainer, Joane Gadou, Jacob Rasmussen, Frans Krätzig; Nene Dorgeles (Samson Baidoo, m.89), Soumaïla Diabaté (Yorbe Vertessen, m.73), Mamady Diambou (Adam Daghim, m.45), Oscar Gloukh; Edmund Baidoo (Karim Onisiwo, m.89) and Petar Ratkov (Maurits Kjaergaard, m.45). Coach: Thomas Letsch.