Vinicius Jr Leads Real Madrid to 3-0 Win Over Salzburg to Top Group H

Posted : 27 June 2025

Real Madrid delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over RB Salzburg on Thursday night in Philadelphia, securing first place in Group H and advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16. With standout performances from Vinicius Jr, who scored one goal and assisted another, Los Blancos confirmed their status as one of the tournament's top contenders.

The result pushed Real Madrid to seven points, two ahead of Al Hilal, who also won their final group match by defeating Pachuca 2-0. Salzburg finished third with four points, while Pachuca exited the competition without registering a single point. Real Madrid will now face Juventus, the Group G runners-up, in the Round of 16 on Tuesday in Miami. Al Hilal are set to take on Group G winners Manchester City in Orlando on Monday.

Despite heavy rain, Real Madrid controlled the match from the outset. Salzburg’s young goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky impressed early with several saves, including a crucial stop to deny Vinicius Jr a quick opener.

The Brazilian forward remained persistent and eventually found the net in the 40th minute after receiving a precise pass from Jude Bellingham. With agility and flair, Vinicius danced past two defenders and finished clinically from the edge of the box.

Just before halftime, Vinicius once again played a key role, this time assisting Federico Valverde with a brilliant back-heel inside the box, doubling Madrid’s lead in stoppage time.

Though Real Madrid continued to dominate possession in the second half, their finishing remained inconsistent. It wasn’t until the 84th minute that Gonzalo Garcia added a third goal, calmly lobbing the ball over the keeper to seal the win on a swift counterattack.

Speaking after the game, Vinicius expressed satisfaction with his performance and emphasized the team’s focus heading into the knockout phase. “I'm very happy with the goal and the assist. But now comes the most important part, the knockouts,” he said.

Madrid could be further strengthened by the return of Kylian Mbappé, who missed the group stage due to a bout of gastroenteritis. The French star resumed training earlier in the week, and coach Xabi Alonso confirmed the decision to rest him against Salzburg was precautionary to ensure full recovery for the next stage.

With momentum and depth on their side, Real Madrid appear well-positioned as the Club World Cup enters its decisive phase.

Vinicius Jr Leads Real Madrid to 3-0 Win Over Salzburg to Top Group H

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