Il Real Madrid beats 1-0 il Leipzig in the first leg match of the round of 16 of Champions League and immediately directs the double comparison in view of the return match on March 6th. After a first half of great suffering he thinks about unblocking a complicated match Brahim Diaz, with real magic in the 49th minute. The Germans try to catch it again with all their energy, they scare Lunin several times, they also risk a lot on the counterattack, but in the end the result doesn’t change. The first round goes to AncelottiWhile Rose he will be called upon to do the feat at the Bernabeu.
THE MATCH
Leipzig starts very strong and after 2′ they are already ahead: following the development of a corner the head of Sesco, which completely free bags. Peljto’s assistant, however, waves the flag and VAR confirms Henrichs’ offside position, judged active (light contact with goalkeeper Lunin) without even calling the referee to the monitor. However, the Germans continue to press and in the 10th minute Sesko is still close to taking the leadfinding the output response of a careful Lunin. Real struggles to get out from deep, he makes a lot of mistakes in the setup phase and even when he gets to the opponent’s backline he is unable to put together fluid patterns enough to penetrate between the opponent’s shirts. Despite maintaining a high pace, as the minutes passed the match became rather nervous, fouled and fragmented. The first half ends in a draw and without any other emotions.
At the start of the second half the music does not change, it is always Leipzig who go vertically with greater continuity and find more openings. After 4′, however, Real Madrid went through, making the most of one individual play: does everything Brahim Diazwho gets rid of three opponents and then finds a magical left-footed shot to the far post. The hosts respond immediately with one double conclusion Olmo-Seskoon which The moon he is careful twice. Leipzig tried courageously, but in the 65th minute it was Real who came close to making it 0-2 on the counterattack: Vinicius fishing bene Rodrygo, but its conclusion ends up skyrocketing. Los Blancos continue to rely on counterattacks and in the 72nd minute it is only the palo to deny Vincius the doubling goal, after one played by film library. However, the game remains very much alive, The moon must first commit to a good initiative Simonsthen he has to perform a real miracle on yet another attempt to Sesco. In the final minutes the challenge turns into one race, with tension running high and a referee struggling to keep tempers at bay. However, Real manages to keep the bar straight and bring home the result, guaranteeing it a good chunk of qualification.
REPORT CARDS
Sesco 6.5 – The lightning goal is canceled out in a rather fiscal manner, but he doesn’t give up and continues to exploit verticalisations to try to hurt Real. He tries until the end, but crashes into the Lunin shutter.
Simons 5,5 – Perhaps the most awaited of his players, but once he has given some ideas he never gives the impression of being able to enlighten his teammates, nor of being able to invent a decisive play.
Elm 6 – A match of great generosity, made up of great running, insertions and battles in the middle of the pitch. He lacks coolness and precision on a couple of occasions.
Listen 5.5 – He played an excellent first half, containing Vinicius’s constant outbursts well and preventing him from being truly dangerous. After the yellow card at the beginning of the second half he instead goes into great pain and ends up going haywire over and over again.
Carvajal 5.5 – Many setup errors, a lot of nervousness and a couple of fouls for which he was pardoned by the referee. He grows a little offensively when spaces open up in the second half, but in general he is among the least convincing of Real.
Diaz 7 – In the first half he moved well between the lines, but never found the right openings either for himself or for his teammates. At the beginning of the second half, however, the magic that decides the match is invented, followed by another couple of high-level actions. He doesn’t make us regret Bellingham, but then he also leaves due to injury.
Lunar 7 – Leipzig shoots Real’s triple on target and even though there are only a couple of truly notable interventions, they always prove attentive and contribute to the success in a decisive way.
Vinicius 6.5 – In the first half he plays a lot of balls but always with a certain affectation, in the second however he takes center stage by inventing increasingly spectacular plays, including the one which then hits the post denying him the 0-2.
THE SCORESHEET
Leipzig-Real Madrid 0-1
Leipzig (3-4-2-1): Gulacsi 6.5; Simakan 5.5, Klostermann 6.5, Orban 6; Henrichs 5.5 (30′ st Haidara 5.5), Schlager 6.5, Olmo 6 (30′ st Elmas 5.5), Raum 6; Sesko 6.5, Simons 5.5; Openda 6 (30′ st Poulsen 5,5).
Trainer: Rose 6,5
Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): Lunin 7; Carvajal 5.5, Nacho 6, Tchouameni 6.5, Mendy 6; Valverde 6.5, Kroos 6.5, Camavinga 6.5; Diaz 7 (39′ st Vasquez st); Rodrygo 5.5 (39′ st Joselu St), Vinicius 6.5.
Trainer: Ancelotti 6.5
Referee: Peljto
Markers: 4′ st Diaz (R)
Warned: Simakan (L), Carvajal (R), Poulsen (L), Vinicius (R), Sesko (L)
Expelled:
THE STATISTICS
– 200th appearance in all competitions with the Real Madrid shirt for Rodrygo.
– 50th appearance in the UEFA Champions League for VinÃcius Júnior (23 years and 216 days), who thus becomes the fifth youngest player to reach this milestone in the history of the competition after Iker Casillas (22 years and 155 days), Cesc Fà bregas ( 22 years and 331 days), Kylian Mbappé (22 years and 339 days) and Lionel Messi (23 years and 166 days).
– Brahim Diaz’s fourth goal in the Champions League, the second with Real Madrid (the other two with Milan). The Spanish midfielder also scored in the round of 16 of the last edition of the UCL (against Tottenham).
– Among the midfielders who have scored at least two goals in the current Champions League, only Osman Bukari and Casemiro have fewer shots on target (both two) compared to the former AC Milan player (three).
– The one hit by VinÃcius Júnior against Red Bull Leipzig was the first wood hit by the Brazilian in the current season, considering all competitions.
– Benjamin Sesko attempted six shots from inside the area in the match against Real Madrid; since Opta collected the data (2003/04) only Mohamed Salah (seven) in the 2022 final has attempted more shots from inside the Real Madrid area in a UCL match.