Champions League: Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig Live
Preview: Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig
Los Blancos enters the Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig match with a feeling of unfairness from their previous against Valencia and they will aim to finish the task against RB Leipzig in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 match at the Bernabeu on Wednesday at 8:00pm. Carlo Ancelotti’s team comes to their home ground with a 1-0 lead from the initial leg three weeks ago, which is not a secure advantage for RB Leipzig to overcome.
Jude Bellingham was sidelined with an ankle injury, allowing Brahim Diaz to shine with a brilliant solo goal at the Red Bull Arena in the first leg of their last-16 match. Despite facing numerous chances from Leipzig, Real Madrid managed to secure a narrow advantage through a combination of wastefulness from the hosts, strong defending, and heroics from Andriy Lunin.
However, in the following three weeks, Real Madrid struggled in La Liga, with only one win in three matches, including a draw with Rayo Vallecano and a controversial match against Valencia. Bellingham’s last-minute header was disallowed due to the referee’s whistle blowing just as Diaz crossed the ball, leading to protests from Real Madrid players and Bellingham receiving a red card for his reaction towards the referee.
Marco Rose’s team had the opportunity to break through the Blancos defense at the Red Bull Arena on February 13, but their lack of clinical finishing let them down. However, they had no trouble converting their chances in a 4-1 victory over VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga. Despite Peter Gulacsi’s early mistake, Leipzig’s goals from Dani Olmo, Lois Openda, Yussuf Poulsen, and an own goal by Ivan Ordets secured the win.
The team is currently trying to catch up in the top-four race due to a disappointing run of form during the winter. This win was only their third in 10 games, leaving them one point behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga standings. Additionally, they have not won any of their last six Champions League knockout matches, dating back to the 2019-20 season, as they prepare to face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Head-to-head
In the previous UEFA Champions League campaign, these two teams faced off during the group stage. Each team won their home match, with Real Madrid securing a 2-0 victory over Die Rotten Bullen in Madrid thanks to goals from Fede Valverde and Marco Asensio in the second half.
Prediction
Real Madrid’s opponents typically face a tough challenge after Los Blancos secure a victory in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie. This trend is expected to continue on Wednesday, especially considering Leipzig’s inconsistent performance since the beginning of the year. If Leipzig’s finishing in the upcoming game mirrors their recent form rather than their performance in the first leg, they may manage to score against Lunin. However, a motivated Real Madrid team is likely to respond strongly and secure their spot in the quarterfinals.
