Actual Madrid have been made to work for his or her place within the Champions League quarter-finals, edging previous RB Leipzig 2-1 on mixture after a 1-1 draw of their second leg.
RB Leipzig have been arguably the higher aspect and missed a number of gilt-edged probabilities, registering 20 pictures to Actual Madrid’s 11.
However Carlo Ancelotti’s aspect elevated the tempo within the second half and finally did sufficient to safe qualification for the subsequent spherical.
Bidding for a record-extending fifteenth Champions League title, Actual took the lead because of a Vinicius Junior’s strike from a counter-attack within the sixty fifth minute.
However Leipzig’s Willi Orban levelled three minutes later with a header to arrange a tense finale that included a strike that hit the crossbar by Dani Olmo.
How Actual edged to victory
Regardless that Actual have a formidable report in Europe – having been knocked out within the spherical of 16 solely twice prior to now 14 years whereas profitable the title 5 occasions throughout that interval – they started relatively cagily.
Leipzig saved threatening to attain, with Orban lacking twice within the second half after capturing broad.
Within the second half, Rodrygo changed Eduardo Camavinga and abruptly Actual have been enjoying with extra goal.
Actual appeared to have put the tie to mattress when Toni Kroos stole the ball and fed Jude Bellingham on the midway line, who took the ball up the Leipzig field.
He slipped a go to Vinicius, who had reduce in from the left into the centre circle earlier than rifling a shot into the left-hand nook.
That purpose solely appeared to fireplace up Leipzig, who equalised inside three minutes when Orban acquired in entrance of Nacho to attain with a stooping header from a cross by David Raum.
In a remaining 20 minutes by which a number of yellow playing cards have been handed out, Actual have been enjoying with hearth and have been underneath repeated strain in their very own field with goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who had already saved Actual within the first leg, compelled to make a number of essential saves.
Leipzig nearly took the sport to additional time when Dani Olmo noticed his shot ricochet off the bar in added time.
In the end, Actual did simply sufficient to qualify for yet one more quarter-final.
“Obviously we know it wasn’t the best game of the season,” mentioned Actual captain Nacho.
“Sometimes you just have bad games and tonight was the case. It looks like a drama because of how we played but what really matters is we qualified for the quarters. Let that be a lesson for what’s to come.”
Opta stats – RB Leipzig make membership historical past
- RB Leipzig have did not progress from every of their final three UEFA Champions League final 16 ties, going out to Liverpool in 2020-21, Manchester Metropolis in 2022-23, and Actual Madrid this season.
- Actual Madrid’s Jude Bellingham (4 targets, 4 assists) turned the primary English participant to register each 4+ targets and 4+ assists in a single UEFA Champions League marketing campaign since Steven Gerrard in 2007-08 (6 targets, 4 assists).
- RB Leipzig tried 20 pictures in opposition to Actual Madrid – essentially the most that they had ever recorded in a single UEFA Champions League knockout stage recreation.
- Actual Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior has been straight concerned in 27 targets in his final 27 begins within the UEFA Champions League, scoring 14 and aiding 13.
What’s subsequent for Actual Madrid and RB Leipzig?
Title-chasing Actual Madrid face Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Sunday; kick-off 5.30pm.
RB Leipzig, who method the weekend simply exterior the Champions League locations, host Bundesliga basement membership Darmstadt on Saturday; kick-off 2.30pm.
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Francis Ngannou takes place on Friday March 8, dwell on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace with the principle occasion anticipated round 11pm. Ebook Joshua vs Ngannou now!
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