Real Madrid 5-1 Salzburg: Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior on target as Los Blancos boost last 16 hopes

Four beautiful goals – Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr with two apiece – and one beautiful disaster – scavenged by Kylian Mbappe – secured Real Madrid's spot in the last 32.

They may not make the last 16 as of right now, but will back themselves to beat whoever the draw allows them – with good reason.

Salzburg, who were already out, started well, but eventually Madrid's individual quality turned the game. Rodrygo struck on 23 and 34 minutes, his second coming via a clever exchange with Jude Bellingham and a lovely finish.

It was hard not to fear for Salzburg, and when Janis Blaswich allowed Mbappe to rob him inside the box three minutes into the second half, a drubbing looked inescapable.

And so it turned out to be. Vinicius scored typically adroit and inventive goals on 55 and 77 before, five minutes from time, Mads Bidstrup volleyed a yahoo of a consolation.

So the holders will not be exiting the competition in its league stage, and given all that is in their favour, they will not be easy to stop.

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Of course. With the players they have, they can beat anyone. They lack the midfield rhythm of old, but it's so hard to stop them.

There being the last 32 – so not there. They lie 16th in the table with a game away to Brest coming up; a win gives them an outside chance of making the top eight, who progress to the last 16, but ultimately they'll take two legs against whoever the draw allows them to face. Salzburg are 34th out of 36.

Salzburg started well, but Madrid are Madrid.

Both sides are still trying to score.

They've not really stepped off, which I guess can happen when you've loads of brilliant players and various of the subs are good enough for starts.

At some point, he'll need to play every game. He weaves through midfield and finds Vinicius, who ducks inside again and tries to score a similar goal to his last, but this time he wellies over the top. He, though, is also good.

GOAL! REAL MADRID 5-1 SALZBURG (BIDSTRUP) Ah go on! Salzburg get Dedic away down the right, he clips in to meet the onrushing Bidstrup, and he leathers a volley high past Courtois. He'll be talking about that until the day he dies. Brilliant.

Off go Capaldo and Gloukh, on come Kawamura and Gourna-Douath.

Off goes Rudiger ... and on comes Ramon, 20 years old, prudict of the academy, and making his debut. Mazal tov old mate. What a moment.

GOAL! REAL MADRID 5-0 SALZBURG (VINICIUS) Madrid play out, pinging passes until Valverde is rampaging through midfield. He finds Vinicius, who takes brilliantly in stride, dashes past his man in the same movement, and rolls an expert's finish across Blaswich. Another very acceptable combination and finish.

Valverde guides Diaz into the box and skips inside Bidstrup then hammers and effort headed towards the far corner, but Blaswich saves well.

Off go Mbappe and Rodrygo; on come Diaz and Endrick.

Alaba swings a lovely ball over the top for Vinicius, who ragdolls the defender ... but then his second touch takes him wide, so he can only cross to no one and Salzburg clear.

Guler swings in, and Asencio heads over. He and Rudiger got in each other's way a little there.

Rudiger of course getting involved in the box. But it goes to Guler at the edge, whose powersweep is deflected behind for a corner ... that comes to nothing.

But they can't really get it going.

Salzburg remove Yeo and Nene, bringing on Diambou and Platkowski; Madrid replace Ceballos ad Bellingham with Guler and Alaba. Ahahahaha, you have got to laugh. That is ridiculous.