For Marco Rose it was the third trip to Madrid as head coach. So far he had experienced a very unique atmosphere – but with the same result. In the 2020 Corona season he played with Borussia Mönchengladbach at the alternative venue Estadio Alfredo di Stefano – 0-2 (although that was also enough for Borussia to advance – a different time in every respect).
Two years later, Leipzig had their premiere at the Santiago Bernabéu, which was still being renovated at the time – 0-2. On Wednesday evening he saw the Madrilenian football temple in (almost) full splendor, and in a knockout duel at that. Rose had not only chatted about it in detail and with pleasure on the evening before the game.
It was actually his best result, but at the same time his most annoying – the 1-1 meant that Real made it to the quarter-finals, even if Carlo Ancelotti’s team needed more nerve and luck than they would have liked. After the 0-1 in the first leg, more was possible for the Leipzig team this time, who had little to blame – but they did miss one or two chances too much.
The first difference action
Vinicius Junior, previously on the verge of being sent off, gave the confident Spanish La Liga leaders the lead in the 65th minute, and three minutes later Willi Orban equalized for the Bundesliga fifth-place team. There was nothing more to come out of this encounter, which was late but really got going. And who knows what would have been possible in this pairing if Leipzig’s early opening goal in the first leg had stood.
After this trouble, Leipzig’s hope for a turnaround in the result was that this time Xavi Simons was in the game, to whom Rose awarded the title of “difference player” alongside Dani Olmo. The problem: There was also a returnee on the other side, and just as Rose raved about Jude Bellingham, a “young guy with an open mind,” it was also clear that there are differences within this category too.
The first difference was actually made by a Leipzig player, but after Dani Olmo had asserted himself with finesse in midfield, Lois Openda narrowly moved to the right (16th). It was Openda’s second chance; he had previously tried a shot, but it was even more unsuccessful. Annoying from Leipzig’s point of view, but still: This start was also impressive, Real, on the other hand, was content with the bare minimum, control mode, but also strangely aimless and almost a bit listless.
Benjamin Henrichs (left) is robust in a duel with Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid. : Image: EPA
It wasn’t Toni Kroos’ fault; his job is precisely to ensure the (resting) pulse in the real organism. It will be interesting to see what role model national coach Julian Nagelsmann will soon create for his new center. Kroos will probably be flanked by less illustrious names than Tchouameni and Camavinga, perhaps instead by Groß or Andrich.
But he is also needed as an organizing element with the ball, and no one can fool him so quickly. On Wednesday too, he was the starting point and trigger point for almost all attacks until he was substituted in the 77th minute, and you could be sure: where Kroos is listed as the sender, delivery is guaranteed.
The way he hit Openda with a short pull in his role as the last man was one of the applauded highlights of the first half. The only thing left in front of the Leipzig goal was a header from Vinicius Junior in the 12th minute. The fact that this was not enough for the Madrid audience was expressed with increasing volume. Especially when, shortly before the break, Xavi Simons finished dangerously and then Openda caused the side netting to tremble.
Published/Updated: 34 minutes ago Published/Updated: Recommendations: 6 Christopher Meltzer, Munich Published/Updated: Recommendations: 6
After the break, Ancelotti brought Rodrygo on for Camavinga, which revived things, but there were still two shocking moments for Real. Only when Lunin misjudged Openda, but ironed out his mistake himself. And after 54 minutes, when Vinicius Junior pushed Orban on the sidelines to cause violence, but referee Massa left it with a yellow card.
The fact that Kroos didn’t get this for playing against Dani Olmo caused further displeasure in Leipzig. But apart from that, the balance of power slowly but noticeably shifted, the white power moved forward little by little, and when Bellingham had too much space and – of all people – served Vinicius, it was done.
Even if it looked like that, that wasn’t the end of Leipzig’s hopes. First it took a save from Antonio Rüdiger to prevent the equalizer from a shot from Xavi. Then Rose and his team actually had something to celebrate when Orban headed a cross from Raum into the goal. Leipzig tried again, most recently with a lob from Dani Olmo that hit the crossbar – it was: the small difference.