Good evening everybody and welcome along to another MARCA in English live blog, this time taking you through the Champions League group stage match between Real Madrid and Braga at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
Real Madrid have enjoyed a perfect start to the group stage this season, winning three out of three against Napoli, Braga and Union Berlin. Should they take all three points tonight against the Portuguese side, they will book their place in the round of 16 with two games to spare.
There are quite a lot of injuries for Carlo Ancelotti to deal with at the moment with a handful of first-team players out of action, but they still have far more quality than a Braga side which sits fourth in Liga Portugal after 10 games.
Braga are on three points in the group and sit third before kick-off knowing that a loss here and a win for Napoli in Berlin would make it almost impossible for them to progress to the next round.
Match ends, Real Madrid 3, Sporting Braga 0.
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 3, Sporting Braga 0.
Attempt saved. Abel Ruiz (Sporting Braga) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved.
Attempt missed. Vitor Carvalho (Sporting Braga) right footed shot from outside the box.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Cristián Borja.
Offside, Real Madrid. Nico Paz tries a through ball, but Toni Kroos is caught offside.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Cristián Borja.
Foul by Simon Banza (Sporting Braga).
Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Simon Banza (Sporting Braga) left footed shot from outside the box.
Foul by Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Simon Banza (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Fran García replaces Ferland Mendy.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Matheus.
Simon Banza (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Real Madrid search for a fourth
Off the post! Vinicius is running riot down the left flank and pings the ball into the box where Rodrygo pounces and hits the ball against the woodwork.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Nico Paz replaces Federico Valverde.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Joselu replaces Rodrygo.
Substitution, Sporting Braga. André Horta replaces Bruma.
Substitution, Sporting Braga. Simon Banza replaces Álvaro Djaló.
Attempt saved. Al Musrati (Sporting Braga) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Vitor Carvalho.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Luka Modric replaces Brahim Díaz.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Carvajal replaces Lucas Vázquez.
Attempt blocked. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
Goal for Real Madrid!
Rodrygo Goes gets in on the act after another team move and a fine chip over Matheus to make it three.
Corner, Sporting Braga. Conceded by Antonio Rüdiger.
Attempt missed. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Brahim Díaz.
Attempt missed. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
Substitution, Sporting Braga. Joe Mendes replaces Víctor Gómez.
Substitution, Sporting Braga. Al Musrati replaces Rodrigo Zalazar.
Substitution, Sporting Braga. Abel Ruiz replaces Ricardo Horta.
Goal! Real Madrid 3, Sporting Braga 0. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Goal for Real Madrid!
2-0 to Real Madrid! It's Vinicius Junior who doubles the home team's lead as a fine team move gives the ball to the Brazilian who dances around the box to finish.
Goal! Real Madrid 2, Sporting Braga 0. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Attempt saved. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Antonio Rüdiger.
Attempt blocked. Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.
Hand ball by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Attempt blocked. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior with a cross.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Sikou Niakaté.
Braga start second half well
Braga have started the second half brightly, with Bruma testing Lunin with a strong effort from just outside the box, but it's comfortably saved.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Attempt saved. Bruma (Sporting Braga) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cristián Borja.
Attempt saved. Nacho (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Vitor Carvalho.
Second Half begins Real Madrid 1, Sporting Braga 0.
First Half ends, Real Madrid 1, Sporting Braga 0.
Half-time
Half-time comes at 1-0 to Real Madrid, and Rodrygo almost added to the scoreline just before the break as he forced a fine save from Matheus in goal for the Portuguese team.
Attempt blocked. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Offside, Sporting Braga. Ricardo Horta tries a through ball, but Bruma is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Brahim Díaz.
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Álvaro Djaló (Sporting Braga).
Attempt missed. Rodrigo Zalazar (Sporting Braga) right footed shot from outside the box.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Cristián Borja (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Cristián Borja (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Real Madrid take control
The game has swayed in Real Madrid's favor since the opening goal. Braga still having plenty of the ball, but Real Madrid are pushing them into their own half more and more.
Hand ball by Víctor Gómez (Sporting Braga).
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid).
Álvaro Djaló (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Cristián Borja (Sporting Braga).
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Rodrigo Zalazar (Sporting Braga).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Vitor Carvalho (Sporting Braga).
Goal Real Madrid!
1-0 to Real Madrid! Brahim Diaz breaks the deadlock as he receives the ball from Rodrygo Goes and doesn't make a mistake with his finish from close range.
Goal! Real Madrid 1, Sporting Braga 0. Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Attempt missed. Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by José Fonte.
Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Rodrigo Zalazar (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid).
Ricardo Horta (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Álvaro Djaló (Sporting Braga).
Attempt missed. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior following a fast break.
Tough night for Real Madrid
This is proving to be a much more even game than many might have expected and Braga are not holding back or looking shy in the early encounters. Djalo again let down by his finish after a smart free-kick routine almost catches out the home team.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Sikou Niakaté.
Attempt blocked. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez.
Foul by Álvaro Djaló (Sporting Braga).
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Vitor Carvalho (Sporting Braga) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Víctor Gómez (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid).
Goal ruled out
Real Madrid thought they had the lead as Brahim Díaz converts in the box, but it's pulled back for a foul in the build-up. Still 0-0.
Foul by Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).
Sikou Niakaté (Sporting Braga) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Sikou Niakaté (Sporting Braga).
Delay in match because of an injury Federico Valverde (Real Madrid).
Attempt blocked. Sikou Niakaté (Sporting Braga) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ricardo Horta with a cross.
Saved!
Lunin gets down well and saved the penalty from Djalo! Real Madrid remain on level terms.
Corner, Sporting Braga. Conceded by Lucas Vázquez.
Penalty Braga!
Penalty for Braga! Lucas Vazquez is caught out by Borja's run and he hauls him down by wrapping his arm around him, and he's shown a yellow card.
Penalty saved. Álvaro Djaló (Sporting Braga) right footed shot saved.
Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Penalty Sporting Braga. Cristián Borja draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) after a foul in the penalty area.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid).
Kick-off!
We're underway at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid look to secure qualification from the Champions League group stage with a win over Braga.
First Half begins.
Late change for Real Madrid
Kepa Arrizabalaga has picked up a late injury and he will have to watch from the sidelines. Andriy Lunin starts the game instead.
Braga starting eleven
Here is Braga's starting eleven...
Real Madrid starting eleven
Jude Bellingham has been given a rest by Carlo Ancelotti. You can see the full lineup below:
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Mbappe news
As we await the official lineups for this Champions League clash, the news is that Real Madrid have decided against a move for Kylian Mbappe in any form...
Read more here: Real Madrid are giving up on signing Mbappe: Even a free transfer seems unlikely
Real Madrid vs Braga - Possible lineups
Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, Dani Ceballos and Aurelien Tchouameni are all out injured at the moment, but Ancelotti does have Ferland Mendy back at his disposal. There is a chance that a 4-3-3 will be used in order to give Jude Bellingham a rest.
Braga are having a great time when it comes to fitness, as nobody is out injured. Victor Gomez has recovered from a muscle problem and there are plenty of good options in midfield to choose from right now.
Real Madrid predicted XI: Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Rodrygo, Joselu, Vinicius Junior
Braga predicted XI: Matheus; Mendes, Fonte, Niakate, Borja; Al-Musrati, Zalazar; Djalo, R. Horta, Bruma; Banza
Where to watch Real Madrid vs Braga?
For fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Real Madrid vs Braga will be shown on TNT Sports 4, and is available to stream through the TNT Sports App.
US-based fans can see Real Madrid vs Braga on Paramount+ and ViX.
What time does Real Madrid vs Braga start?
Real Madrid vs Braga is a 21:00 CET kick-off, which is the local time in Spain. That means that it starts at 20:00 GMT in the UK and Ireland.
For fans in the USA, Real Madrid vs Braga starts at 15:00 EDT / 12:00 PDT.
Full-time: Real Madrid 3-0 Braga
Real Madrid are into the last 16 of the Champions League once again, having won their opening four games of the group stage.