Real Madrid left nothing to be desired in Group C and won all six games as they confidently reached the round of 16.
Round of 16: Leipzig – Real Madrid
The season so far
All Real Madrid goals in the Champions League group stage
Winner Group C: 6W 0D 0L 16:7 goals
Top scorer: Jude Bellingham (4)
20.09.: Real Madrid – Union Berlin 1:0 – 90.+4 Bellingham
03.10.: Napoli – Real Madrid 2:3 – 19. Østigård, 54. (11m) Zieliński; 27. Vinícius Júnior, 34. Bellingham, 78. (ET) Meret
24.10.: Braga – Real Madrid 1:2 – 63. Álvaro Djaló; 16. Rodrygo, 61. Bellingham
08.11.: Real Madrid – Braga 3:0 – 27. Brahim Díaz, 58. Vinícius Júnior, 61. Rodrygo
29.11.: Real Madrid – Napoli 4:2 – 11. Rodrygo, 22. Bellingham, 84. Paz, 90.+4 Joselu; 9. Simeon, 47. Zambo Anguissa
12.12.: Union Berlin – Real Madrid 2:3 – 45.+1 Volland, 85. Král; 61., 72. Joselu, 89. Ceballos
The season in a few words: With Bellingham, the Royals seem to have found the missing piece of the puzzle.
UEFA.com Reporter
Madrid is great fun to watch. Although progress was already made on matchday 4, in reality the nerves were definitely strained. A dramatic stoppage-time victory against Union Berlin (scorer Jude Bellingham), a spectacle with five goals and three points in Naples, a tight box in Braga, and then really getting going in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu. The rest of Europe has been warned: “Real Madrid is definitely a force to be reckoned with!
How does Real Madrid play?
Real Madrid currently prefers to play in a 4-4-2 system. Under coach Ancelotti, who has incredible quality in the midfield, they tried to rotate as much as possible until injuries thwarted this plan. Instead of seeing four midfielders as defensive reinforcements – Madrid have mainly used a 4-3-3 system since Ancelotti’s return – the key is for Bellingham to take the front part of the midfield diamond when in possession (more of a 4-1 from a tactical perspective -2-1-2) to launch attacks… and score goals. They are considered to be probably the best counterattack/switch team in Europe.
Fantasy-Starperformer
Jude Bellingham – 50 points
Rodrygo – 33 points
Nacho – 24 points
Important statistics
Highlights: Real Madrid – Braga 3:0
• Real Madrid have won their opening Champions League group stage game in 15 of the last 17 seasons.
• The Spaniards have won their last eight away games against opponents from Italy in the Champions League.
• In the win at Braga on Matchday 3, Jude Bellingham became only the second Real Madrid player, after Christian Karembeu in 1998, to score in his first three Champions League games for the club.
Squad changes
Clubs can register a maximum of three new players before the knockout phase; they have until February 2, 2024 at midnight CET to do so. Since 2018/19, it no longer matters whether these players have already played for another club in this competition, even if that club is still in the competition. Once squad changes for all teams in all competitions have been confirmed by UEFA, the full list of additions and departures will be published on UEFA.com.