Andriy Lunin saved an early penalty after being a last-minute replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Real Madrid went on to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League for the 27th straight season by beating Braga 3-0 on Wednesday.
Brahim Díaz, Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo scored to give Madrid its fourth win from four matches in Group C. Madrid moved five points clear of Napoli, which drew 1-1 with last-place Union Berlin at home in the other group match. Braga stayed third with three points, still in contention for a spot in the knockout rounds.
The Portuguese club has never advanced past the group stage. It is making its third Champions League appearance, and first in 11 seasons.
Madrid got the win despite playing without Jude Bellingham, who stayed on the bench after nursing a shoulder injury this week.
Kepa missed the game after sustaining an injury during warmups and had to be replaced by Lunin, who dived to his right to make the save on the penalty taken by Álvaro Djaló six minutes into the match with the game tied 0-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Lunin also made a great save off a header in stoppage time.“It shows the strength of our squad,” Rodrygo said. “Lunin is always training and doing well, and now he got to play and stopped a penalty and made a big save at the end.”
Kepa, who reportedly had a leg muscle injury, was signed on loan from Chelsea this season to take the starting role of Thibaut Courtois, who will miss a big part of the season because of a knee injury.
Madrid was in control after the saved penalty. Díaz opened the scoring after an assist by Rodrygo in the 27th, Vinícius added to the lead following a clever move inside the area in the 58th, and Rodrygo sealed the scoring in the 61st with a lobbed shot over the goalkeeper after a pass by Vinícius.
Both of Braga’s previous campaigns ended in the group stage. It started this year’s campaign in the third qualifying round.
