UEFA Champions League: Madrid and Bayern Qualify after Sublime Performance in the Group

Champions League Royalties Real Madrid and Bayern Munich secured their spot in this year’s round of sixteen as they continued their unbeaten streak. After Matchday four, Madrid and Bayern remain top of their respective group.

Real Madrid eased past a fragile Braga

Real Madrid secured a slot in this year’s round of sixteen with two games left in the group stage. The record 14-time winners of the prestigious trophy qualified for the knock-out phase consecutively for 26 tournament editions. The dominating 3-0 win against the Portuguese side Braga in matchday four assured their progress.

Madrid started the game without their star player, Jude Bellingham, who is out with a minor injury. The replacement Carlo Ancelotti made proved to be as effective as Bellingham. Brahim Diaz returned to the Spanish side this season after spending three productive seasons on loan at AC Milan. Ancelotti’s insight to play Diaz in the eleven turned out significant. Diaz opened the scoring for the Spanish side after Rodrygo provided a defence-breaking cutback into the path of Diaz, who fired it into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. Braga failed to hold a grip on the game as they were unable to contain the flair Madrid players showcased.

The first half ended with a slender one-goal lead for Madrid. Vinicius Junior doubled their lead with a silky move and passed the ball into the bottom corner from a Lucas Vasquez assist. Real Madrid closed all the doors for a comeback by Braga with an insurance goal from Rodrygo. He produced a magnificent goal as he chipped the ball above the rushing Braga goalkeeper to put the game to bed.

Rodrygo produced an industrious performance, which earned him the Man of the Match award. He had a total of five shots and a few successful dribbles to his overall contribution. The only actual chance of Braga came in the final minutes of the match. Lunin parried off the header with a great save.

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Bayern cement their spot atop the group

Bayern Munich qualified for the knockout round after a hard-earned victory over a fiery Galatasaray. After a game full of twists and turns, Bayern came out victorious thanks to a double from their English marksman Harry Kane. The German champion’s signing from Tottenham for a massive fee proved worthy as his two late goals completed Bayern’s night.

The Turkish side did not make it easy for the hosts as they played with such vigor that they scored a goal through Lucas Torreira, but the goal did not stand due to an offside call on Icardi. Harry Kane came close to giving a lead for Bayern, but the post denied him of his goal. The returning Manuel Neuer made a few good saves for Bayern as he makes his way to his old form. Kane scored his first goal in the 80th minute through a header from an arching cross from Joshua Kimmich. Kane became the third English player to reach 25 goals in the Champions League through his first goal.

Kane secured Bayern’s victory with a simple tap-in from a cross by the 18-year-old Mathys Tel. Kane has now scored 19 goals in the current season in the Champions League and Bundesliga. Bayern suffered a setback as one of their key players, Jamal Musiala, went off injured after feeling his hamstring.

Galatasaray did not stop their struggle till the final whistle. They received their deserved goal in the additional minutes of the game. Cedric Bakambu pulled one back for the visitors, but time was against them. The coach of the Turkish side, Okan Buruk, was seen animated on the pitch side regarding the decision of the referee to blow the whistle for full-time. The remaining two games are crucial for Buruk’s side and they would hope to bounce back from this bitter defeat.