MADRID: Real Madrid ramped up their pursuit of Champions League progress as the holders dismissed – and eliminated – Red Bull Salzburg 5-0.

After losing three of their opening six games, Madrid looked more like their usual selves as they dispatched the Austrians with a first-half double from Rodrygo, before a goal from Kylian Mbappe and two from Vinicius Jr followed after the break.

This win and results elsewhere guarantee Madrid at least a play-off spot, and they are one point off the automatic qualification places, with a visit to Brest on the final matchday next week.

Salzburg, whose only consolation was a late Mads Bidstrup volley, have lost six of their seven league phase games and are out of the Champions League.

They needed a win and for other results to go their way to stand a chance of sneaking into the play-offs, and started stronger at Santiago Bernabeu with Oscar Gloukh shooting narrowly wide from 18 yards.

Madrid hit back devastatingly in the 23rd minute. A sweeping move from back to front saw Jude Bellingham knock down Vinicius’ aerial ball and Rodrygo netted with an angled volley.

That lead was doubled before half-time with a beautiful strike, demonstrating Madrid are still to be feared in Europe despite their indifferent league stage form.

Rodrygo played a one-two with Bellingham, the Englishman giving the return pass with a back-heel, and the Brazilian swept home from the edge of the box.

The win was sealed three minutes after half-time when Mbappe capitalised on a mistake by visiting keeper Janis Blaswich, dispossessing the German in his six-yard area and tapping home.

Vinicius, who moved to seven goals in six Champions League games, made it 4-0 after 55 minutes, collecting a brilliant Luka Modric pass and cutting into the box from the left before curling a right-footed effort beyond Blaswich.

He made it five with a cool finish after a Madrid passing move all the way up the pitch from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

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