New look Real Madrid ease past Salzburg to top group H

Times Sports
2 Min Read
Vinicius Junior celebrates Real Madrid's first goal. Photo: FIFA

A refreshed Real Madrid side cruised to a 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg to top Group H and secure a place in the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos lined up with a five-man defence for the first time since Alonso took charge, replacing Carlo Ancelotti. The tactical shift paid immediate dividends at Lincoln Financial Field, as Real delivered a composed and confident performance.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fran Garcia operated as wing-backs, pushing high up the pitch, while Aurelien Tchouameni slotted in between central defenders Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen to anchor the new system. The formation marked a departure from the traditional 4-3-3 favoured by Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, instead echoing Vicente del Bosque’s successful side of 2000.

Real Madrid looked at home in the fresh setup, dominating proceedings against a Salzburg side that struggled to contain the Spanish giants.

Vinicius Jr opened the scoring with a precise finish into the bottom corner after gliding past two defenders. Just before half-time, the Brazilian turned provider with an elegant back-heel to set Federico Valverde through, who made it 2-0 with a clinical strike.

Second-half substitute Gonzalo Garcia, a product of Real’s academy, capped off the win with a delightful chipped goal to seal the result.

Speaking to DAZN after the match, Vinicius Jr said: “We’re taking it step-by-step. Of course, we can’t fully adapt to the coach’s ideas so quickly, it takes time. But today was a good game for that, especially in the first half.”

Real Madrid will now head to Florida for a last-16 clash against Juventus, runners-up from Group G, on July 1.

RB Salzburg, meanwhile, exit the tournament after finishing third in the group with four points – just one short of Al-Hilal, who snatched second place.

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