It was far from a convincing display from Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League last 16 second-leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening. The hosts were incredibly nervy as they clung on to a 1-1 draw under some serious pressure from their fearless visitors. In the end, Vinicius Jr’s goal proved decisive as Real sealed their progression.
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Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring the opening goal, with Real Madrid’s English midfielder #5 Jude Bellingham, during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and RB Leipzig
Image credit: Getty Images
Vinicius Jr was on target as Real Madrid edged into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig in a hard-fought last 16 second-leg encounter at the Bernabeu.Carlo Ancelotti’s La Liga leaders lacked a cutting edge in attack for long spells and survived one or two nervy moments before coming through a tricky tie courtesy of a 2-1 success on aggregate.A lacklustre Real failed to register a shot on target until past the hour, but broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when Vinicius Jr rifled home following a brilliant run and pass from Jude Bellingham.
Die Rotten Bullen had talked up their hopes of causing an upset ahead of the match and Lois Openda blew a trio of excellent first-half openings.However, Marco Rose’s side continued to show belief, and they pulled level on the night when Willi Orban headed in three minutes after Real’s opener.Leipzig pushed hard late on but could not find the goal to force extra time as Real booked their spot in their 20th UEFA Champions League quarter-final and the last eight of the European Cup for a record-extending 39th time.
TALKING POINT – SHOT-SHY REAL WILL NEED TO IMPROVE TO LAND A 15TH UCL TITLEThere has been plenty of talk about Real Madrid needing a world-class striker and much of this match provided a microcosm of why that’s the case.Jude Bellingham cut a frustrated, isolated figure at times as the hosts struggled to make much impact in the final third until his moment of inspiration set up Vinicius Jr for the goal that ultimately got Los Blancos over the line.You could forgive the Bernabeu faithful for dreaming of Kylian Mbappe after his two-goal blast for PSG on Tuesday night, but the striker’s much-anticipated move won’t happen until the summer, so Real will have to find a way to make more of a focal point in attack if they are to be serious contenders for another UEFA Champions League crown.PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid). It wasn’t a match where Real’s creative stars shone and RB Leipzig really should have forced extra time. Part of the reason that they didn’t was Rudiger’s imperious display at the back. The German produced a series of excellent blocks as the La Liga giants squeezed into the last eight.PLAYER RATINGS
REAL MADRID: Lunin 7, Carvajal 7, Nacho 7, Rudiger 8*, Mendy 7, Valverde 7, Tchouameni 7, Kroos 7, Bellingham 7, Camavinga 6, Vinicius Jr 7. Subs: Rodrygo 7, Modric 5, Joselu n/a.
RB LEIPZIG: Gulacsi 7, Henrichs 8, Orban 8, Castello 7, Raum 7, Simons 8, Haidara 7, Schlager 8, Olmo 8, Sesko 6, Openda 6. Subs: Poulsen 6, Elmas n/a, Baumgartner n/a, Kampl n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS13’ – RB LEIPZIG CHANCE! The visitors split the Real defence. Openda has a clear sight of goal 20 yards out and Olmo free to his right, but he makes a real mess of the opening with a wayward shot that flies well wide.
16’ – RB LEIPZIG CHANCE! Olmo carves Real open again with a lovely ball from right to left for Openda, but once again the forward lacks conviction as he drags wide from just inside the box.
43’ – RB LEIPZIG CHANCE! A right-wing corner falls for Openda who is in acres of space 14 yards out. He chests down and then sizzles a volley just past the near upright.
65’ – GOAL! – Real Madrid 1-0 RB Leipzig: (Vinicius Jr). Bellingham surges forward from inside his own half and plays an incisive pass into the run of Vinicius Jr, who hammers a superb shot into the corner (Real lead 2-1 on aggregate).
68’ – GOAL! – Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig: (Orban). The Germans are back in business. Orban dives low to meet a left-wing cross at the near post and bullet home a header (Real lead 2-1 on aggregate).
90+2’ – RB LEIPZIG CHANCE! Olmo’s inventive chest and volley towards the far post has Lunin scrambling but hits the top of the bar and bounces over.KEY STATS
18 – @realmadriden's all-time leading scorers in the Champions League:
🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo: 105
🇫🇷 Karim Benzema: 78
🇪🇸 Raúl González Blanco: 66
🇧🇷 Rodrygo Goes: 18
🇧🇷 VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR: 18Meteoric. pic.twitter.com/uccN5gYo2W
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 6, 2024
6 – Players to be involved in at least one goal in their first six games for the same club in the Champions League since 2003/04:
2015 – Artem Dzyuba 🇷🇺 Zenit
2017 – Kylian Mbappé 🇫🇷 PSG
2021 – Sébastien Haller 🇨🇮 Ajax
2024 – JUDE BELLINGHAM 🏴 REAL MADRIDStellar. pic.twitter.com/khOWWlSoVq
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 6, 2024
