A new-look Real Madrid beat RB Salzburg 3-0 to finish top of Group H and advance to the last 16 at the Fifa Club World Cup.
Manager Xabi Alonso deployed a five-man defence for the first time since replacing Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout.
Wing-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fran Garcia were given licence to get forward with Aurelien Tchouameni dropping in between central defenders Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen.
Previous managers Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane preferred a 4-3-3 structure, but Alonso’s approach is reminiscent of Vicente del Bosque’s Champions League-winning side of 2000.
Real looked at ease in the new formation and claimed a comfortable win at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Vinicius Jr opened the scoring with a drilled finish into the bottom corner after gliding away from two defenders.
The Brazil winger’s cute back heel pass set Federico Valverde on his way to double their lead on the stroke of half-time.
Academy graduate Gonzalo Garcia wrapped up the win with a chipped effort.
“We’re taking it step-by-step,” Vinicius Jr told Dazn.
“Of course, we can’t fully adapt to the coach’s ideas so quickly, it takes time. But today was a good game for that, especially in the first half.”
[BBC]