RB Leipzig exit UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid draw
RB Leipzig drew on the night, but were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League last 16 after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to record winners Real Madrid.
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Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig (Real win 2-1 on agg.) Goals: 1-0 Rodrygo 65' (assist: Bellingham), 1-1 Orbán 68' (assist: Raum)
Having lost 1-0 at home, Leipzig knew they had to win in Madrid to have any chance of reaching the quarter-finals. They attacked with the necessary purpose in an encouraging first half, but couldn't make the most of the handful of opportunities that came their way. Loïs Openda sent a couple of shots from the edge of the area wide, while Xavi warmed the palms of Andriy Lunin with a stinging strike. Openda then fizzed an effort wide following a corner, before heading off target with Leipzig's first chance of the second half.
Leipzig goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi was called on for the first time on the hour, saving well from half-time substitute Rodrygo, but the Hungarian was powerless to stop Vinicius Junior applying the finishing touch to former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham's smart pass into the penalty area. Leipzig went straight up the other end to level on the night, though, with Willi Orbán heading in a David Raum cross. Lunin thwarted Benjamin Šeško and Xavi shot wide as Leipzig fell short of the equaliser needed to force extra time and extend their Champions League journey.
Šeško, 20, missed the chance to become the youngest visiting player to score in a Champions League round of 16 fixture at the Bernabéu since Leroy Sané as a 19-year-old for Schalke in March 2015.
Leipzig are the only Bundesliga club to beat Real in the Spanish side’s last 18 Champions League meetings with German opposition.
Toni Kroos made 173 Bundesliga appearances during his time with Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen, winning three Meisterschale and the Champions League with the former.
Bellingham made his name with Dortmund, scoring 24 times in 132 games. His record against Leipzig is four defeats and two wins.
David Alaba won 10 Bundesliga titles with Bayern. Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal and Joselu have also played in Germany, while Carlo Ancelotti led Bayern to 2016/17 Bundesliga glory.
Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg Round of 16, 2nd leg Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Full-time: Real Madrid 1-1 Leipzig (Real win 2-1 on aggregate)
Game over at the Santiago Bernabéu and Leipzig will be livid they haven't managed to at least take this tie into extra time. Vinícius Júnior put the hosts in front before visiting captain Willi Orbán levelled things up on the night. Leipzig ultimately paid for a succession of missed chances in the Spanish capital and their European adventure ends for this season after a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
The cut back for Poulsen ends with the substitute seeing his curling effort saved by Lunin. Orbán sends an effort wide from the subsequent corner. That was a big chance for the Hungarian, who was unmarked.
Top entertainment
Whatever happens in the final 10 minutes here, Leipzig can hold their heads high. Marco Rose's men have been in the thick of the action all night and arguably deserve to be leading. Just 10 minutes to play.
Another effort from Loïs Openda and this time the Belgian forward strikes over the top from distance. Dani Olmo's shot moments later suffers a similar fate.
75'
Another card
Toni Kroos upends Raum and the former is booked for that foul.
Orbán races onto a flighted ball in the Madrid area but instead of headng at goal, he nods across the face. Openda is there but can't make it count. Moments later, Šeško shoots off target.
73'
Tchouameni yellow
Tchouameni is the latest player to be booked after a foul on Xavi.
He's just scored the equaliser and Orbán's enthusiasm takes him into an illegal challenge on Bellingham, who results in a booking for Leipzig's skipper.
Amazing! Moments after going behind, Leipzig are deservedly level and it's captain Willi Orbán with a well-directed header from Raum's centre that gives goalkeeper Andriy Lunin no chance.
The hosts hold an aggregate 1-0 lead in this tie but they head down the tunnel to loud whistles from the home fans as it's been Leipzig who have imposed their game at the Santiago Bernabéu. Loïs Openda had three decent chances while Xavi saw goalkeeper Andriy Lunin make a solid stop late in the half.
Great work from Openda, who sends a very dangerous ball in front of the target which is just too far in front of Šeško.
33'
Henrichs run
The Leipzig full back embarks on a long sprint forward and just can't pick out teammate Raum. Another threatening moment for Die Roten Bullen.
30'
Home frustration
Plenty of whistles audible from the home fans who haven't exactly been thrilled with their side in this game thus far. Plenty of that frustration is down to how well Leipzig have been playing.
26'
Captain fantastic
Super work from Leipzig captain Willi Orban who forces a menacing Jude Bellingham away from the target.
Chances favour Leipzig
Real Madrid have had 56 per cent of the ball thus far but Leipzig boast a 3-2 lead in terms of attempts.
This is an even better chance for Openda, who controls Dani Olmo's pass into the box before diverting narrowly wide.
14'
Openda misses
The Belgian forward smashes a shot off target as Leipzig mount one more attack.
13'
Vinícius off target
The Real Madrid forward connects with Tchouameni's centre with his shoulder and the ball flies off target.
11'
Šeško denied
Šeško waltzes through and ends up in a one-v-one with Lunin. The goalkeeper wins that battle but Šeško was offside.
8'
Birthday celebrations
As we await the night's first big attack, it's worth noting that today is Real Madrid's birthday. The Spanish giants are 122 years young.
5'
Visitors break
A Leipzig counter-attack ends with Raum's shot taking a deflection wide. The resulting corner comes to nothing.
2'
Early Leipzig pressure
Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda are sniffing around the Madrid area early on as the visitors look to put their opponents under pressure.
1'
Peeeeep!
Game on in the Spanish capital.
Here come the teams
Both sides make their way out onto the pitch. Not long to kick off now.
Atmosphere building
The Santiago Bernabéu belts out the Real Madrid anthem as we await the appearance of both teams for tonight's Round of 16 second leg.
Leipzig's challenge
Lest we forget, Leipzig are playing catch-up in tonight's second leg, the Bundesliga side having gone down to Brahim Diaz's goal in the return fixture in Saxony. There will be plenty of interest to see how Marco Rose's counter-attack specialists deal with the hosts' packed midfield tonight.
Leipzig are showing two changes to the side that started against Bochum at the weekend with Xaver Schlager and Loïs Openda starting here and Nicolas Seiwald and Christoph Baumgartner dropping to the bench. Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior leads the line for a Madrid side that look to be lining up with a five-man midfield. Nacho is in the hosts' back four while Rodrygo drops to the bench.
Arrizabalaga, González, Modrić, Rodrygo, Joselu, Lucas Vázquez, Ceballos, Fran García, Brahim Díaz, Arda Güler
Temple of football
Leipzig's media department have been speaking with their former goalkeeper Örjan Nyland - currently at Spanish side Sevilla - and one of the questions the team put to the Norwegian was what it was like to play at the home of Real Madrid. “The stadium is very cool, a real football temple," the 33-year-old responded. "It is one of the stadiums that every professional footballer dreams of playing in. The atmosphere is outstanding, the stands are very steep. Despite our narrow defeat with Sevilla, playing there was an unforgettable experience for me."
Tonight's visitors have reminded us that their stellar performances in the Champions League over recent years have seen the Saxony-based side rise to 40th place overall in the tournament rankings. Leipzig have qualified for European club football's elite competition in six of the previous seven seasons and are now the fifth ranked German team overall in the competition behind Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke.
Closed roof
Reports suggest that the venue for tonight's game, the recently updated Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, will have its roof closed, which should make for an interesting atmosphere with 80,000 fans packed inside. If that comes to pass, it will be the first Champions League game to be played under a closed roof.
This time it's Dani Olmo, who spent seven years with Real rivals Barcelona's famed La Masia academy as a youngster. "It is a special stadium, and I'm here for the first time," said the Spaniard. "I hope to leave with the victory and with a place in the quarter-finals. It's special to feel the pressure of playing in my home country. Let's see what happens!"
Marco Rose is certainly confident of a result tonight, telling his own pre-match presser: "We are convinced we can do it... We need a little luck, but we can help inspire that. In the first leg we showed Real Madrid that we can go toe to toe with them. Here we are, ready to show it again."
In his pre-match press conference, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said, "We have to do our best because the game is not over yet. We decided to give our best from the first minute. We evaluated the first leg, the good things and where we can improve. I think we are ready and we will improve. They are a very dangerous team when it comes to shifting."
The Leipzig playmaker is once again among the candidates for February's vote.
Leipzig team news
Mohamed Simakan is suspended for the second leg after picking up his third yellow of the Champions League campaign at the Red Bull Arena. Castello should slot straight in alongside Willi Orbán after the pair played together at the weekend in preparation. Xaver Schlager should also return after a domestic suspension, while Loïs Openda is expected to lead the line again after coming off the bench in Bochum.
Real Madrid team news
Former Bayern boss Ancelotti remains without ex-Munich defender David Alaba, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão. Toni Kroos (Bayern and Leverkusen) and Dani Carvajal (Leverkusen) are both also expected to start. Ex-Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham is now Real's leading man and should also be in the team after missing the first leg with injury. Ex-VfB Stuttgart man Antonio Rüdiger will be at centre-back. Joselu, who has played for Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hannover, is a doubt with an ankle injury.
Real Madrid form
Los Blancos are enjoying a very good season at home and abroad. They are top of Spain's La Liga by seven points over Girona, while they also completed a perfect group stage in the Champions League, including wins over Union Berlin. Ancelotti's men have lost only twice in 2023/24 - both times against city rivals Atlético, once in the league and again in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey in extra-time.
Head-to-head
Although still relative newcomers to the European stage, this game will be the fourth time Leipzig have faced Real Madrid. The Bundesliga side lost 2-0 on their first visit to the Spanish capital in last year's group stage before becoming the first team to beat Carlo Ancelotti's men in 2022/23 in the return fixture (3-2). The first leg this season means Real lead the head-to-head 2-1. Leipzig's record against other Spanish opposition is two wins and a draw against Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad.
It was a tale of missed chances for Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena, as Brahim Díaz's second-half goal proved the difference for the Spaniards in the first leg. At just 1-0, though, this tie is far from over at the halfway stage.
2:03
Watch: Bochum 1-4 RB Leipzig - highlights
Leipzig came from a goal down to maintain their top-four push thanks to goals from Dani Olmo, Loïs Openda and Yussuf Poulsen in Bochum
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