Real Madrid 3-0 RB Salzburg: Tactical Shift Pays Off
Where to watch Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over RB Salzburg: Stream the full match on FIFA+, ViX, or the Fox Sports app.
Manager Xabi Alonso, in a surprise move, rolled out a five-man defense, featuring Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fran Garcia as wing-backs.At Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Madrid dominated the game and put up an effective performance, thus the tactical change paid off right away.
New Formation, Same Dominance
- In contrast to the familiar 4-3-3 used by former managers Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, Alonso’s shape resembled the one employed by Vicente del Bosque in 2000.
- Aurelien Tchouameni dropped between Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen.
- Alexander-Arnold and Garcia surged forward, stretching Salzburg wide.
- The structure allowed Real Madrid to keep the ball and dictate tempo.
Philadelphia’s Vinicius Junior Stars
The most notable was Vinicius Junior. He easily slipped past opponents to open the goal with a crisp shot into the bottom corner.
Right before halftime, he set up Federico Valverde with a clever backheel, giving Real Madrid a 2-0 cushion. Late in the match, academy product Gonzalo Garcia chipped in the third.
“We’re taking it step-by-step,” Vinicius told DAZN.
“Today was a good game to test the new formation. We’re adapting.”
RB Salzburg vs Real Madrid Stats & Standings
- Final Score: Real Madrid 3-0 RB Salzburg
- Shots on Target: Real Madrid 7 | RB Salzburg 2
- Possession: Real Madrid 62% | RB Salzburg 38%
- Group H Standings:
- Real Madrid – 7 pts
- Al-Hilal – 5 pts
- RB Salzburg – 4 pts
- Wydad Casablanca – 0 pts
- Real Madrid – 7 pts
What’s Next?
- Real Madrid: Face Juventus (Group G runners-up) in Florida at 02:00 BST, July 1
- RB Salzburg: Eliminated, finishing third in Group H
Looking for where to watch RB Salzburg vs Real Madrid or where to watch Real Madrid vs Salzburg? Replay and highlights are available on DAZN, FIFA+, and select regional broadcasters.
Source: BBC