Player ratings from the full match below:
Thibaut Courtois – 7: Another easier night at the office, rarely tested, facing just 2 shots on goal in the game. He was effective from his line, claiming crosses and corner kicks.
Fede Valverde — 8: It seems that he has been playing in the right back position for decades. Its motor allows it to go up and down the field at will. He was impressive defending the 1v1. Later in the match, he moved to midfield and provided an assist to Vini for the fifth goal.
Raúl Asencio — 7: He continues to play at the first team level, prepared and psyched for each game. He never gets nervous when left as the last defender or when he retreats in a 4-on-2 situation: he reads the game well and stays calm. He played at right back for the final 20 minutes of the game and looked comfortable in that position, advancing effectively and selecting the right pass.
Antonio Rüdiger — 7: He helped with the build-up from the back, passing the ball to Vinicius and Bellingham down the left channel.
Ferland Mendy — 6: Quiet afternoon, with Salzburg rarely offering a threat. He was secure in possession when venturing forward, often passing backwards or sideways.
Dani Ceballos—8: A workhorse in midfield, but also a technically talented player who provides a release valve under pressure. Once again, he was all over the field, stopping play and recovering the ball. He finished the game with a game-high 5 tackles.
Luka Modric – 8: He worked hard without the ball, often pressing from a second forward position. Combines well with Fede, Ceballos and Bellingham. He always looked for the quick vertical pass. He fed Vinicius with a perfect pass to help score the fourth goal.
Judas Bellingham – 8: He participated in the first two goals: running into the box for the first goal and stretching a leg that propelled the ball towards Rodrygo for the first goal. Rodrygo’s second goal came courtesy of a backheel pass from Bellingham.
Rodrygo—8.5: He scored two and created the third for Mbappé. A complete performance where Rodrygo’s individual quality stood out and made the difference.
Vinicius Junior – 8.5: He scored a brilliant goal after a perfectly weighted pass from Luka Modric. He achieved the second after Fede Valverde gave him a pass through the center. He now has 7 goals in 6 UCL games. He also played the cross-field pass to an onrushing Rodrygo, which led to the first goal.
Kylian Mbappé – 7: It wasn’t as electric a performance as seen over the weekend, but he managed to score after a strong dribble fell at the feet of the Salzburg goalkeeper. Mbappé then dispossessed the goalkeeper to score one of the easiest goals of his career.
Substitutes
David Alaba — 7: Double substitution with Arda Güler, replacing Dani Ceballos and moving Raúl Asencio to the right back while Fede moves to the center of the field. As in his previous cameo, he showed off his long-range passing and his weight over the Salzburg defence.
Arda Güler — 6: He replaced Jude Bellingham with 30 minutes to make his mark. He worked hard with the ball to make an impact and explored the central spaces of the field. Good delivery of set pieces.
Brahim-N/A: He almost scored with a well-executed volley from the right side of the box.
Endrick-N/A: Some quick touches and deft moves, but little else of note.
Jacobo Ramón — N/A: He replaced Toni Rüdiger in the 77th minute to make his Champions League debut.