Actual Madrid executed a smash-and-grab efficiency within the first leg of their spherical of 16 Champions League conflict towards Purple Bull Leipzig. Los Blancos, who wish to win the competitors for the fifteenth time, scored the one purpose within the forty eighth minute courtesy of Brahim Diaz.
Leipzig had a number of probabilities to equalise and even win the sport nevertheless it was Madrid who managed to knick away an unsightly win that has given them an enormous benefit going into the second leg on the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid have been with out the providers of their most in-form participant, Jude Bellingham, however that didn’t have an effect on them as his substitute, Diaz, scored top-of-the-line targets of the season to attain the one purpose of the sport.
Actual Madrid win in typical fashion
Effectively, Actual Madrid taking part in lacklustre soccer in UEFA Champions League however nonetheless successful the sport is a narrative we have now seen again and again, particularly in the previous couple of seasons. And this sport was one other reminder of why Los Blancos are kings of this match.
The 14-time winners have been put beneath plenty of stress by the house workforce as they struggled to discover a constant rhythm for your complete 90 minutes. Nonetheless, they capitalised on the numerous second when Brahim Diaz conjured one of many targets of the match to place his aspect within the entrance.
VAR controversy
It took solely two minutes within the sport earlier than the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) needed to become involved. It began when an tried volley from Xaver Schlager bounced awkwardly earlier than the ball discovered its method to Benjamin Sesko, who headed the ball into the again of the web.
The linesman flagged for offside, however replays confirmed Rodrygo was taking part in him onside. The VAR primarily based its determination on the truth that Benjamin Henrichs gave the impression to be blocking the imaginative and prescient of Madrid keeper Andriy Lunin, which saved the rating at 0-0.
Actual Madrid’s backline removed from good
Within the La Liga, Actual Madrid are at present on an 18-game unbeaten run stretching all the way in which again to September 2023. Nonetheless, Underneath Leipzig’s intense urgent, Los Blancos’ defence made a number of errors, and it was solely a mix of some poor ending by Leipzig and a few sensible goalkeeping by Lunin that spared their blushes.
Most of their errors have been self-inflicted, as they made some poor passes. Whereas this might be checked out as one of many off days contemplating their earlier historical past within the match, Carlo Ancelotti will hope his again 4 increase their requirements rapidly if they’re to progress additional within the match.
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Andriy Lunin proves his mettle
With Thibaut Courtois’s long-term harm concern and Kepa Arrizabalaga’s woefully out of shape, Ancelotti has put his belief in Andriy Lunin because the workforce’s major shot-stopper. And in one of many largest video games of his profession, the Ukrainian made some strong saves. A number of of his saves got here when the rating was 0-0, which saved Madrid within the sport.
Lunin additionally impressed along with his spectacular ball-playing expertise and excellently learn the sport, timing his run to perfection. If not for the Ukrainian, the results of the sport would have been totally different.
Within the different sport of the night time, Manchester Metropolis gained 3-1 on the highway towards Copenhagen, with Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden scoring for the guests, whereas Magnus Mattsson received the only strike for the Danish workforce.