Leipzig crash out as Real Madrid exhibit ruthless efficiency to advance
Having taken a slender lead home from the first-leg at the Red Bull Arena, Real Madrid ensured passage to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-1 draw (2-1 agg.) as RB Leipzig crash out despite another strong performance against the Spanish giants.
Die Roten Bullen learned a harsh lesson in ruthlessness this evening as Real Madrid made their limited opportunities in front of goal count once again. As was the case for a lot of the first-leg in Germany, Leipzig made the brighter start and dominated for large periods in the opening half at the Santiago Bernabeu. Marco Rose’s side looked determined to find parity in the tie, with Lois Openda going closest when he fired across Lunin’s goal in the 15th minute.
Aside from ex-BVB star Jude Bellingham’s attempt that was swiftly blocked down by the alert Willi Orban, Simons was next to test Lunin at the other end. The Ukrainian shot-stopper parried the Dutch midfielder’s dipping shot behind for a corner. Perhaps the opportunity of the half fell to Openda from said corner kick before the break – the Belgian firing his snapshot half-volley merely a whisker wide of the target as Lunin dived in despair.
Despite the German club reinforcing their command after the restart, Real Madrid forged a lead in the 65th minute against the run of play. The Galacticos made their individual player quality count on the break – Bellingham hared free, weighted a perfect pass for Vinicius Junior, and the Brazilian fired across his body into the top left corner. One would expect Leipzig heads to drop but Rose’s charges suddenly restored parity inside three minutes. David Raum’s cross was flicked to the net by Orban leaving the tie nicely poised at 1-1 with 22 minutes to play.
Rose trusted in Yusuf Poulsen as the game neared it’s end as an unfortunately inaccurate Openda was called ashore. Orban came close to knocking home his second from an 83rd minute corner but the headed effort bounced wide. With lady luck on Real’s side, Dani Olmo came agonisingly close to forcing extra time at the death. His delicate lob sailed over Lunin but rebounded off the crossbar and wide. A night that got away in the end for Marco Rose’s spirited side.