GOAL
Real Madrid: Vinicius (65′)
RB Leipzig: Orban (68′)
In the first leg 3 weeks ago in Germany, Real Madrid had to go through a difficult match with host RB Leipzig, without Jude Bellingham – the team’s number 1 scorer in both the Champions League and La Liga. If RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko did not continuously waste opportunities, it is unlikely that Real Madrid would have won all 3 points thanks to Brahim Diaz’s only goal at the beginning of the second half.
Real Madrid won tickets to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig
The second leg, which ended this morning, also started with a similar scenario to the match in Germany 3 weeks ago. Despite having home field advantage and an optimal squad, Real Madrid was dominated by RB Leipzig in the opening minutes of the match. Right in the 8th minute, Benjamin Sesko had the opportunity to face goalkeeper Lunin again, but could not succeed in finishing. Although the referee later blew the offside whistle again, Sesko’s missed ball was also a warning to Real Madrid’s defense.
4 minutes later, it was the turn of another RB Leipzig striker, Openda, to test Lunin’s skills, but his shot from nearly 17 meters away unfortunately went wide. By the 15th minute, Openda again had a chance to face the home team’s goal after a quality pass from conductor Olmo, but once again the RB Leipzig striker could not finish successfully.
In the Bernabeu stands, the few RB Leipzig fans who followed the home team to Spain appeared impatient, as the German team’s attackers continuously squandered opportunities. The valuable lesson in the first leg is a wake-up call for coach Marco Rose’s team. 3 weeks ago, Sesko was the player who continuously squandered opportunities, and at the Bernabeu this morning it was Openda.
And in the second half, RB Leipzig actually conceded. Jude Bellingham – the star who missed the first leg due to injury – dribbled the ball from home and skillfully passed it to Vinicius Jr. to score the ball into RB Leipzig’s net in the 65th minute. The total score after 2 matches is now 2-0. in favor of the Spanish team.
In that context, RB Leipzig was forced to raise their attacking squad. Coach Marco Rose also continuously made changes to find the equalizer. And just 3 minutes after the goal, the German team finally found a way into Lunin’s goal. Starting from Raum’s cross on the left wing, captain Willi Orban pressed Nacho’s face and headed the ball into Real Madrid’s net.
During the remainder of the match, RB Leipzig was the team that played better and had more shots. Olmo even once put the ball against the crossbar of Real Madrid’s goal in the 90+1 minute. However, that was all the German team could do, making it impossible for them to come back and defeat Real Madrid, so they had to watch Carlo Ancelotti and his team win tickets to the next round.
SQUAD
Real Madrid: Lunin, Carvajal, Nacho, Rudiger, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga (Rodrygo 46′), Kroos (Modric 78′), Tchouameni, Bellingham (Joselu 85′), Vinicius Jr.
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Henrichs, Orban, Lukeba, Raum, Schlager (Elmas 85′), Haidara (Kampl 90′), Olmo, Simons, Openda (Poulsen 77′), Sesko (Baumgartner 85′).
