Real Madrid kept their lead at the summit of Champions League Group C after defeating Sporting Braga 2-1 on Tuesday, with Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham each finding the net. The win brings Madrid one step closer to the knockout rounds. Bellingham, who has already scored 11 times in 12 games since joining the club, helped the European giants secure an important away win. Madrid currently sits on nine points after three games, comfortably ahead of Napoli, who beat Union Berlin 1-0. Braga lingers in third place with three points to their name.
Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham scored in each half for Real Madrid in a 2-1 win over Sporting Braga on Tuesday, keeping their team three points clear at the top of Champions League Group C. Real Madrid got closer to securing a place in the knockout stage with the victory. Bellingham scored his 11th goal in 12 games since joining Real Madrid, helping the 14-time European champion take the away win and extend its lead in Group C. Madrid has nine points from three games, three more than Napoli, which beat winless Union Berlin 1-0. Braga remained third with three points.
If Madrid wins the home fixture against Braga in November, they will secure a spot in the knockout stages for the 28th straight year. Braga, however, is still searching for its first-ever exit from the group stage, making only its third overall appearance in the competition after an 11-year absence.
The deadlock was broken in the 16th minute by Rodrygo, who hadn't scored since August, capitalizing on a Vinicius Junior run down the left to score from inside the area. Later, in the 61st minute, Bellingham doubled the advantage with a low strike into the far corner, again assisted by Vinicius. It could have been a wider margin, but both Brazilian stars saw goals ruled out for offside during the match.
Interestingly, 20-year-old Bellingham has yet to score in back-to-back games for Madrid, though he has now scored in the first three Champions League matches for two seasons running—a feat he first achieved with Borussia Dortmund. His presence in the midfield allowed Madrid to dictate the pace and dominate the early stages; in fact, Braga didn't register a single shot on target in the first half. While the hosts grew more competitive after the break, they couldn't turn their late pressure into goals.
Madrid's focus now shifts to Saturday's highly anticipated 'El Clasico' against Barcelona. There were slight concerns when Bellingham was substituted late in the Braga game due to muscle soreness, but Carlo Ancelotti downplayed the injury. The manager noted that while Madrid controlled the match after the second goal, conceding one changed the momentum. Ancelotti is still missing key players Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and Arda Guler due to injury.