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With steady steps: Madrid defeats Salzburg and is already thinking about Juventus

Real Madrid secured their place in the Club World Cup round of 16 with a comfortable victory over Salzburg (0-3). It was a match without much flair but very effective, in which Xabi Alonso's team showed themselves to be solid and pragmatic. The reward: a direct clash against Juventus on 1 July, in a tie that promises to be highly charged.

The Whites had raised some doubts in their previous performances, but this time they came out determined to put an end to any speculation. Xabi opted for his trusted 3-5-2 system, which combined intensity, control and verticality. With Rüdiger, Tchouaméni and Huijsen forming the three-man central defence, and Trent and Fran García occupying the wide channels, the team found balance and depth.

The engine room had Bellingham and Valverde as constant driving forces, with Arda Güler enjoying freedom in the attacking midfield role. Up front, Vinicius and Gonzalo started as the offensive reference points. The approach worked: high pressure, compact lines and immediate recovery after losing possession. Salzburg could barely cross the halfway line in the opening minutes.

Despite Real Madrid's dominance, clear chances were slow to come. Vinicius gave a warning with a powerful shot that the Austrian goalkeeper stopped with his reflexes. But it was only a matter of time. In the 40th minute, in a lightning-fast move after a steal in their own half, Bellingham played a measured pass to Vinicius, who finished like a true star: control, feint and goal.

With the advantage, Madrid maintained control, and just after the start of the second half, Valverde extended the lead. The Uruguayan latched onto a backheel assist from Vinicius and fired home to make it 0-2. It was a psychological blow for the home side, who never really got back into the game.

Salzburg reacted in their own way: with attacking changes and a little more drive, but they came up against Courtois, who was always there to save the day. Even when Baidoo had a clear chance, Bellingham appeared to clear off the line.

As the minutes passed, Xabi Alonso made changes to conserve energy: Modric, Rodrygo, Jacobo and Ceballos came on to close out the game and ensure control. There was a scare when Rüdiger took a knock, setting alarm bells ringing, but it turned out to be nothing serious.

Gonzalo rounded off the night with the third goal in the 84th minute, taking advantage of a defensive error with a clinical and accurate finish. Salzburg had no answer.

Thus, Madrid qualified as group leaders with seven points and without any major upsets. Now comes the serious part: Juventus await in the round of 16 and, if everything goes according to plan, PSG or Bayern could be next. But for now, the Whites are delivering and convincing. No frills, but effective. The road to the title remains open.