Real Madrid’s quest for the first 15-time European Cup winner will advance if they can avoid a disappointment at home to RB Leipzig in the second leg of the round of 16 against the Bundesliga powerhouses.
Brahim Diaz scored the goal in the first leg, a very close match that required feats from Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
[MORE: Real Madrid vs Leipzig Highlights, Final Result]
Real Madrid were missing five standout players in this match. Jude Bellingham and Antonio Rudiger will be available for this match, while David Alaba, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois are still absent.
Leipzig is controlled by Belgian forward Lois Openda and Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons, who have 35 between them in the Bundesliga alone.
[MORE: UEFA Champions League Centre: fixtures, results]
Defender David Raum is a key player, and goalkeeper Janis Blaswich will most likely want to play at least once if Leipzig are to turn that tie around.
Start: p. m. ET, Wednesday, March 6. How to watch: Paramount and TUDN USA
Madrid have been in mini-funk, knocking out Rayo Vallecano and Valencia and beating Sevilla 1-0 at home from the first leg.
Leipzig have won and lost twice since the first leg in Germany, combining Bundesliga victories over Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bochum with a 90th-minute loss to Bayern Munich.
He will be nervous, even at the Bernabeu, because Leipzig can play fast and challenge any team. But Real’s experience, midfield and fans make it silly to expect anything more than Madrid with a quarter-final position. Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig, with Real advancing 2-1 on aggregate.
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