Carlo Ancelotti post-match interview after Braga Champions League win

Real Madrid secured their passage to the round of 16 of the Champions League with a comfortable 3-0 win over Portuguese side Braga in Group C.

Goals from Brahim, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo sealed all three points in a game which could have turned out very differently had Lunin not saved an early penalty for the hosts. Real Madrid were without Jude Bellingham due to injury but in their end their quality showed and they did not miss the Englishman who had scored 13 goals in 14 games.

After the win over Braga, Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the press and summarised the game in simple terms, calling it “good” and saying he was “happy”. The manager admitted that after the penalty, Madrid “took control and in the second half we transitioned well”.

Ancelotti: Piqué “lives in his own world”

The name of Brahim was on everyone’s lips ahead of kick-off as the starting XI revealed that he would play in the ‘Bellingham role’, just behind a front two. Ancelotti characterised his game as having “enormous quality and sacrifice. He could have played more over these months, it’s true. But Bellingham was in his position. Today he replaced him well.”

Ancelotti admitted that he may well have have been unfair with Brahim, saying that “there’s no problem saying it, for pointing out that he could have had more minutes”.

Before the game, ex-Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué had set social media ablaze, saying that “nobody will remember Real Madrid’s last Champions League”. Ancelotti was asked about these quotes and responded by saying that Piqué “lives in his own world, one that’s not the world of Real Madrid. I assure him that not one single Real Madrid fan has forgotten about the 14th Champions League. Not a single one. It’s a Champions League that will be remembered forever.”

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Arda Güler’s “moment will come” after no-show in UCL

Arda Güler, after sitting on the bench against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga, made the senior squad for the second time this season but did not manage to see any minutes on the pitch, with Ancelotti commenting when asked that “we are introducing him little by little into the dynamic of the group, with care. His moment will come, when he’s 100%.”

Ahead of the game, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga went down in the warmup with an injury, and was substituted by Lunin, who saved a penalty. After the game, Ancelotti said that “he had a pain in the warmup and it wasn’t appropriate for him to play. We put Lunin in there and he played a key part in the win. He had a complete game, and with the ball at his feet as well. He performance shows us we have a healthy squad.”

Vinicius first half left Ancelotti “with some doubts”

Vinicius had been going through a tough patch in the matches previous to the Braga encounter, with the player failing to ignite the same feelings of danger and efficiency that fans had become accustomed to. However, he shone alongside Rodrygo and Brahim, especially in the second half, getting a goal and assist, causing general mayhem for the Braga defence. “The first half left me with some doubts”, Ancelotti admitted, “because he could’ve been more effective. But in the second he was spectacular. What he and Rodrygo did... we have to analyse it in detail. Amazing. Although it’s true that when you’re winning”, he continued, “you play in a more comfortable way. But for example, not many duos can put that counter attack together.”

He spoke about Rodrygo as well, who had a fantastic game after going through a series of disappointing games, saying that “sometimes forwards don’t score and it’s not a problem. It’s a question of going through streaks. It was obvious that Rodrygo’s issue was a matter of time, because he has extraordinary quality.”

Real Madrid’s next game is against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid on Saturday 11 November 2023. Kick-off is at 3p.m. ET and 12p.m. noon PT.