Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham and RB Leipzig and Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager compete for the ball in the second round of the first leg of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League between Real Madrid CF and RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in March. January 6, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo via José Breton/Action Pics/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Real Madrid held firm and got rewarded for a defensive-minded approach to their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg versus RB Leipzig, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 1-1 draw that gave them a 2-1 aggregate win over Marco Rose’s Germans.
The first leg in Germany was a fight, as Brahim Diaz’s 48th-minute goal was enough for Real to take a 1-0 lead despite conceding nine shots on goal while leading in attempts 15-14.
[MORE: UEFA Champions League Centre: fixtures, results]
There were mood swings in the second leg, with RB Leipzig being the biggest team in the first half and the most attacking team for most of the match.
Vinicius Junior scored on a Jude Bellingham-led counterattack in the 66th minute to make it 2-0 on aggregate, but Willi Orban responded temporarily as Leipzig made it a strong 22-minute finish.
Leipzig finished with 20 shots to Madrid’s 11 and an xG merit of 1. 11-0. 69, but Real won the ownership war and maintained their lead in the first leg at the Bernabeu.
Goals: Vinicius Jr (66′), Orban (68′)
Start: p. m. ET, Wednesday, March 6. How to watch: Paramount and TUDN USA
The game is open, for the second consecutive half it is Leipzig who takes twice as many shots from the hosts.
Possession of the ball came around the 90th minute, but Leipzig made 3 more shots on goal in this half.
Marco Rose turned to Yussuf Poulsen, Eljif Elmas and Christoph Baumgartner in the final 10 minutes instead of Benjamin Sesko, Loic Openda and Xavier Schlager.
A quickfire response from the visitors!
It was Willi Orban who got Leipzig back in less than a minute with more than 20 minutes left at the Bernabéu.
David Raum lends a hand and Leipzig returns to this area.
This is quality football.
Jude Bellingham has the ball at the top of the 18 and slows down his dribble long enough for Vinicius Junior to cut inside.
Bellingham opens his hips and slides to the penalty spot, where the striker beats Peter Gulacsi to give a 1-0 lead in the adjustment and a 2-0 merit in the equaliser.
And will it be more than a yellow card?
Vinicius Júnior knocks down his boy from behind.
It’s Willi Orban, and the Leipzig defender is unhappy. He gets right into Vini’s face, and the Real Madrid’ man’s clumsy two handed shove catches Orban in the throat.
Orban hits the bridge and the VAR watches, but Vini is shown a yellow card.
Ancelotti removes Eduardo Camavinga and brings in Rodrygo to threaten a second goal (and make the game more fun, we selfishly add).
Now, Dani Olmo presides over a dangerous loose kick and rolls it up. . . right from the most sensitive part of a limb of the wall that jumps.
Still 0-0 (1-0 agg.)
Loïc Openda misses from very close range with a hard shot late in the middle, completing a differently poor half.
RB Leipzig connecting on one of their two very early chances could’ve made this game something. but Carlo Ancelotti is 100% happy to go calcio tonight.
56% of the ball for Real, who have a percentage of 0. 09 over 0. 35 xG combined and only two of 8 shot attempts in the match.
They have a 1-0 aggregate lead and are concerned about keeping the merit intact for what they hope will be their 15th European Cup.
Real had a little more ball but didn’t produce much genuine danger; Those who expect the league leaders to push for a second goal will have to wait a bit, because until now it was more about waiting for Leipzig’s mistakes.
All of Leipzig’s mistakes came with the final ball, as this rule could simply be 1-1 on aggregate. Let’s be too dramatic, because xG is 0. 14-0. 07 in Leipzig’s favour after an hour.
Benjamin Sesko was denied on a breakaway by Andriy Lunin, but the offside flag then came up and Sesko’s attempt betrayed his feelings about the potential flag.
Xavi Simons then gave Loïc Openda a half chance, but the Belgians more or less squandered it.
Still there’s hope here for the German visitors.
How could RB Leipzig achieve a comeback and a disappointing victory?
Well, Benjamin Sesko fired off a whopping six shots in the first leg with an xGOT on 1.79 and finished with three missed big chances (according to fotmob).
The other side of the coin is Loïc Openda, electric this season but who discreetly opposes Real.
Problem is there’s so much defensive experience on Real. If the ball gets through Toni Kroos and Co., it’s then gotta defy Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Nacho Fernandez, and Ferland Mendy.
Oh, and goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who made saves in the first leg.
But there is a trace for Marco Rose’s Leipzig.
Jude Bellingham attacked the referee when the weekend draw between Real Madrid and Valencia blew the whistle in the 10th minute of stoppage time, a moment or two before Madrid passed the ball over the goal line with a cross.
He earned a red card and today announced that he will miss Real Madrid’s next two matches in La Liga: at home against Celta Vigo and away against Osasuna. Real are seven points ahead of Girona and eight points ahead of Barcelona.
That’s today.
There are no surprises here, as Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons and Loic Openda all start, as do Dani Olmo and Willi Orban.
Jude Bellingham is capable of passing and Real have put together a solid unit.
Toni Kroos leads a midfield with Aurélien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham will be the attackers.
Look out, Leipzig.
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