Real Madrid played a draw against Leipzig, thanks to Vinicius Junior’s goal and the advantage of winning the first leg. Leipzig used their 1-0 lead from the first leg to seal their place in the quarterfinals by holding Madrid to a draw in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
In Short
Vinicius Junior gave Madrid the lead in the 65th minute, but three minutes later, the German team equalized. Real Madrid faced pressure until the end and will play another draw in Lyon on March 15. On the club’s 122nd anniversary, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium witnessed another thrilling European night. The game started with intense struggle.
First Chance for Madrid
The first chance came when Tchouaméni’s cross was met by Vinicius Junior’s shoulder (12th minute). Leipzig responded swiftly with lightning-fast counterattacks, but Openda failed to capitalize on any opportunities. Goros kept pushing the game forward, but the Germans covered every defensive space and tried to penalize the hosts with fast substitutions. Marco Rose’s team came close to scoring twice before the break, first with Simons’ curling effort pushed away by Lunin, and then with Openda’s powerful strike missing the left post.
Real Madrid’s Goal (watch)
Great counterattack by Real players in Vinicius' goal against Leipzig from the perspective of the stands#RealMadrid #ChampionsLeague #HalaMadrid #Leipzig pic.twitter.com/9XHVLYf9eH
— Sports channel (@SportsCN2) March 7, 2024
Second Half
The second half saw an increase in pace, and Real Madrid started penetrating the opponent’s box quickly. In the 63rd minute, Carvajal played a clear ball to Rodrigo, whose shot was saved by Gulácsi. However, Real Madrid made no mistakes in the next step. When Leipzig was on the attack, Kroos disrupted the game and played Belligham, who slipped past Vinicius before increasing the pitch’s length. Junior and the Brazilian scored with a stunning finish (65′) for the first time.
Real Madrid secured their place in the quarter-finals
The visiting team equalized in the 68th minute when their corner kick was only partially cleared, and Raum turned the ball back into the box for Orbán to nod into the bottom corner. “At this pivotal moment, the game was ripe with opportunities, and seizing a brief window, Valverde unleashed a powerful shot from the outskirts of the penalty area, challenging destiny itself.
Orbán’s header narrowly missed its mark by mere inches in the 81st minute.” Seven minutes later, it was Rodrigo’s turn to come close. After a beautiful demonstration of skill, the Brazilian was unable to beat the keeper with his right-footed attempt. The Germans tried to give extra time, and Dani Olmo came close to doing so, but his powerful effort was deflected off the crossbar. With a strong showing, Ancelotti’s group advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals.
Goalkeeper and Defense
Andriy Lunin (5/10):
Had to make some important saves in the first half. Couldn’t do much about Leipzig’s goal.
Dani Carvajal (7/10):
Often the furthest forward in the early stages. Then settled into his usual role – and looked much better for it.
Antonio Rudiger (7/10):
Stopped a chance from Zavi Simons that seemed certain to go in – and celebrated appropriately with enthusiasm.
Nacho (6/10):
Solid at the back. Kept the ball well and timed his tackles correctly.
Ferland Mendy (5/10):
Was slightly overrun by Leipzig’s tricky attackers. Also wasn’t at his best in the tackles.
Also Read : “Vinicius Junior’s Brace: Real Madrid Salvages Draw in Valencia Return Amid Racial Abuse Incident”
Midfield
Toni Kroos (7/10):
Kept the ball moving, especially when Madrid broke forward. Completed his passes with 93% accuracy.
Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):
Steady in midfield. Made some timely tackles but also committed some silly fouls.
Eduardo Camavinga (5/10):
The first half didn’t suit his game much. Subbing off at half-time was unfortunate, but Madrid needed to free up a midfielder.
Federico Valverde (6/10):
Looked much better when asked to delve deeper after the break.
Attack
Jude Bellingham (7/10):
Operated like a traditional striker in the first half, but didn’t receive much support. Provided a beautiful assist for Vinicius’ goal and improved significantly after the break.
Vinicius Junior (8/10):
Was dangerous when he had the ball but often got stuck in trouble. Scored a fantastic goal to increase his team’s lead and made some defenders look foolish.
photos source : Real Madrid official website
video post source : X
