6th March, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Real Madrid displayed a lackluster performance at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, playing out a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig, but qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on 2-1 aggregate.
Leipzig dominated play from the start to finish but were unlucky not to beat an unconvincing Madrid.
The visitors started brightly and threatened in the 16th minute of the match. Lois Openda did well inside the box to bring down a pass from Dani Olmo. He got away a decent shot but it crept just past the right post.
Openda, in the 42nd minute spurned a good chance to have given Leipzig the lead. He got a shot away from inside the penalty box, but it went inches wide of the left post.
In the 63rd minute, Peter Gulacsi pulled off a great save to deny Rodrygo, who made himself some space inside the box and unleashed a quick shot to the right side of the goal.
Madrid broke the deadlock in the 65th minute from counter attack. Jude Bellingham showed great vision to find Vinicius Junior with a cheeky pass inside the box, and his first-time shot was precise and sailed into the left side of the goal to make it 1-0.
Leipzig equalised two minutes later. David Raum sent a superb cross into the box. Willi Orban latched on to it and from close range planted a header inside the right post, leaving Andriy Lunin beaten.
In the 89th minute, Rodrygo wove through the defence with ease and got one-on-one with the keeper, but failed to score with his low strike to the middle of the target as Peter Gulacsi produces a good save.