Thanks to the magical moments in the game, Real Madrid defeated Leipzig and is now striving to secure a spot in the quarter-finals on March 6th at the Bernabéu.
In Short
Diaz’s Beauty
Real Madrid showcased a better performance than Leipzig at the RB Arena, advancing themselves into a strong position in the Champions League Round of 16 clash. The winning moment came in just a few minutes into the second half when Brahim swiftly bypassed three defenders, creating a moment of inspiration by elegantly curling the ball past the goalkeeper with a left-footed strike.
This angle though woaaahhh 🥶 #UCL pic.twitter.com/bq97OtdEY3
— Seputar Real Madrid (@SeputarMadrid) February 13, 2024
While Real Madrid could have gained a more significant advantage against Germany, Vinicius Junior’s attempt in the 72nd minute hit the post and bounced out.
At the Santiago Bernabéu on March 6, a spot in the quarterfinals will be decided. Real Madrid and Leipzig were playing hard, with Real Madrid trying to dominate the ball and Leipzig applying pressure in an attempt to take advantage of fast substitutions. This strategy proved successful as Sesko found the net within two minutes, but his goal was ruled offside against Henrix.
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After nine minutes, Real Madrid responded as Kroos delivered a corner, and Simancas cleared the header. Brahim received the ball and transferred it to Camavinga, whose shot caused Gulacsi to make a nice stop. Moments later, Lunin came out on top against Sesko in a one-on-one situation.
Brahim was instrumental in the first half
Only ten minutes had passed at the RB Arena, but it was already evident that there would be no respite tonight as the game continued relentlessly. Although security remained paramount, most of the danger came from long-distance attempts—a handball by Hendrix at 15′ and a shot by Kroos at 20′.
After the break, Real Madrid changed the game with a goal in the 49th minute. What a goal it was! With dexterity and balance, Brahim skillfully lifted the ball into the goal, dribbling around Raum and curling it into the upper corner with his left foot.
Real Madrid’s strong second half
The pace of the game changed at 0-1, as Real Madrid tried to counterattack. A good opportunity to make it 0-2 came to Rodrigo, whose shot from inside the box at 64′ was parried by the keeper and then rebounded back into the center, where Valverde was quick to convert.
Vinicius Junior enjoyed an even better chance eight minutes later. Brahma drove to the edge of the box and left the ball for Valverde, who took a shot from close range, but it went straight back to the keeper after hitting Clostermann’s leg. The hosts made efforts until the end, with Sesko in the 82nd minute and a fierce header from the edge of the box two minutes later, but both were thwarted by inspired Lunin, ensuring Real Madrid held onto the lead.
Goalkeeper and Defense
Andriy Lunin (8/10): Saved us with nine saves and some crucial clearances throughout the game.
Dani Carvajal (5/10): Struggled overall. A foolish game almost cost us a goal early on, and he made some naive mistakes. Fortunately, he wasn’t substituted.
Aurelien Tchouameni (7/10): Won some important headers and offered a real fight against Sesko. Got booked late for a foul.
Nacho (6/10): A welcome return for the experienced center-back. Kept it tidy and made some vital interceptions.
Ferland Mendy (7/10): Dealt with things well and kept Olmo away from dangerous areas. A solid performance overall.
Midfield
Toni Kroos (7/10): Started with some misplaced passes in the first half but got back to his usual self after the break. Made some incisive passes with his expansive distribution.
Federico Valverde (6/10): Put in the hard work, won some 50/50 challenges, and offered to attack from deep areas. However, it wasn’t his best day as he played some wayward passes.
Eduardo Camavinga (7/10): Ran tirelessly, put in a shift, and enjoyed some good exchanges with the ball. Not glamorous but crucial for success.
Brahim Diaz (8/10): Was given the unenviable task of replacing Benzema for the day. Stayed calm until he scored a fantastic goal for Madrid’s equalizer. Couldn’t quite complete Belingheim’s upset…
Attack
Rodrigo (6/10): Less involved compared to Vinicius but wasn’t as sharp in the final third. Could’ve put one away when he had a chance but lifted it over the bar.
Vinicius Junior (8/10): Had a difficult first half but came alive after the break, improving defensively and creating chances for others. Unlucky not to score with his attempt on goal.
