RB Leipzig host Real Madrid: Head-to-head comparison

RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid

Round of 16, part one!

On Tuesday February 13th, the iconic Champions League anthem will finally be heard again in the RB Arena. At 9 p.m., RB Leipzig will host Real Madrid in their home stadium for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s only other visit to Leipzig came in October 2022, a game RB Leipzig won over the “Merengues” by a scoreline of 3-2 in the CL group phase.

Ancelotti’s balancing act and defensive concerns

Real Madrid in focus

Both teams now have a few new faces in key areas of the pitch since that last matchup. Xavi and Lois Openda, for example, were not yet wearing the Leipzig jersey at the time, while Jude Bellingham was still playing in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.

Other key players like Willi Orban like Toni Kroos have already faced off before. We compare the key players and have their most important stats for you!

* All statistics include numbers across all competitions for the respective club as well as in the Champions League this season.

Willi Orban vs. Antonio Rüdiger

Willi Orban made his long-awaited return to the lineup at the end of January after a months-long spell on the sideline due to injury. As a leader and strong defender, the calm and experience of our captain is a crucial factor in the RB Leipzig defensive line.

Overall Stats:

Name: Willi Orban
Age: 31
Appearances: 294
Minutes: 24.867
Goals: 27

Performance data from the 23/24 Champions League:

Appearances: –
Minutes: –
Goals: –
Duels Won: –
Ball recoveries: –
Yellow cards: –
His Real Madrid counterpart is Antonio Rüdiger. The German international has been playing in the Spanish capital (previously FC Chelsea) since July 2022 and has been a central part of the Blancos defense since then. Similar to Willi Orban, the 30-year-old is resolute in duels and in the air, as well as a vocal leader in the back.
Recently, thigh problems have forced Rüdiger to watch on from the sidelines, but the defener could be fit in time for the game in Leipzig.

Overall Stats:

Name: Antonio Rüdiger
Age: 30
Appearances: 83
Minutes: 6.438
Goals: 4

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 6
Minutes: 469
Goals: –
Duels won: 4
Ball recoveries: 26
Yellow cards: –

Mohamed Simakan vs. Nacho Fernandez

Mo Simakan has only missed one competitive game so far this season due to a yellow card suspension, and that alone shows the importance of the Frenchman in coach Marco Rose’s squad. The 23-year-old has been playing very consistently in the center of defense or as a right-back and is particularly impressive in tackling and heading the ball.

Overall Stats

Name: Mohamed Simakan
Age: 23
Appearances: 106
Minutes: 7.682
Goals: 6

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 6
Minutes: 509
Goals: 1
Duels won: 2
Ball recoveries: 22
Yellow cards: 2
Nacho Fernandez has been part of Real Madrid‘s first team since 2012. The 34-year-old central defender has since won the Champions League five times and the Spanish championship three times with the club. The Spanish international has also been captain since last summer and, along with Luka Modric, is the longest-serving Real professional.

Overall Stats

Name: Nacho Fernandez
Age: 34
Appearances: 345
Minutes: 24.386
Goals: 16

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 6
Minutes: 436
Goals: –
Duels won: 5
Ball recoveries: 29
Yellow cards: 1

Xaver Schlager vs. Toni Kroos

As a traditional number eight in the center of midfield on the eight, Xaver Schlager not only intercepts balls and wins duels, he also has his strengths in counter-pressing. His tireless running makes him valuable in the RBL transition game.

Overall Stats

Name: Xaver Schlager
Age: 26
Appearances: 60
Minutes: 4.512
Goals: 2

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 6
Minutes: 450
Goals: 1
Duels won: 6
Ball recoveries: 31
Touches: 283
Passing percentage: 83.3 Percent
Yellow cards: 1
Toni Kroos has been setting the pace in midfield in the Spanish capital for almost ten years. Now 33 years old, the former German national team player (106 international caps) is still the brains and leader on the pitch. His passing range is still outstanding, and he remains the most successful German player of all time with 31 trophies.

Overall Stats

Name: Toni Kroos
Age: 34
Appearances: 447
Minutes: 34.457
Goals: 28

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 5
Minutes: 314
Goals: /
Duels won: 3
Ball recoveries: 17
Touches: 388
Passing percentage: 97.2 Percent
Yellow cards: /

DAZN on Prime

RB Leipzig plays against Real Madrid

Dani Olmo vs. Luka Modric

After two injuries and a difficult season so far, “El Mago” is on the way back to his electric best. In the last four games, Dani Olmo has slotted right back into the starting line-up as an offensive left winger or right winger. The Spaniard’s magic foot can do anything on the ball in either position, and you can see the rhythm coming back more and more.

Overall Stats

Name: Dani Olmo
Age: 25
Appearances: 134
Minutes: 7.953
Goals: 27
Assists: 31

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 1
Minutes: 15
Goals: 1
Assists: –
Touches: 16
Dribbles: 1
Passing percentage: 90%
The Croatian Luka Modric has been a key part of the Los Blancos squad since 2012. Even in the latter stages of his career as a footballer, the veteran still plays the majority of games in midfield. But there’s no doubt: the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner is still in a class of his own.

Overall Stats

Name: Luka Modric
Age: 38
Appearances: 514
Minutes: 37.398
Goals: 38
Assists: 83

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 5
Minutes: 302
Tore: –
Assists: –
Touches: 348
Dribbles: 3
Passing percentage: 92.4%

Xavi vs. Jude Bellingham

In his first year at Cottaweg, Xavi has already left his mark. The 20-year-old talent starts on the wing but oftenfloats into the middle of the pitch with his speed and quickness, and when he does, he becomes a goalscoring threat. Either the young Dutchman is looking for a goal himself or he is looking for and finding his teammates for a chance of their own.

Overall Stats

Name: Xavi
Age: 20
Appearances: 28
Minutes: 2.158
Goals: 7
Assists: 9

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 6
Minutes: 418
Goals: 2
Assists: 2
Shots on goal: 5
Dribbles: 19
Top Speed: 34.5 km/h
After his move from Borussia Dortmund to Madrid last summer, Jude Bellingham immediately became an elite performer in his new team. The midfielder is currently leading the top scorers list in LaLiga with 14 goals, with 18 goals in all competitions already this season.
The 20-year-old Englishman combines technique, dynamism and finishing skills. In short: he is the entire offensive package.

Overall Stats

Name: Jude Bellingham
Age: 20
Appearances: 28
Minutes: 2.504
Goals: 18
Assists: 8

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 5
Minutes: 449
Goals: 4
Assists: 3
Shots on target: 7
Dribbles: 23
Top Speed: 32.5 km/h

Lois Openda vs. Vinicius Junior

As of February 4th of this year, Lois Openda has become all-time top-scoring Belgian in a Bundesliga season with 14 goals, achieving that total in only 20 games. Our number 17’s lightning quickness, nose for goal, and strong finishing skills, make Lois a threat for any team.

Overall Stats

Name: Lois Openda
Age: 23
Appearances: 29
Minutes: 2.195
Goals: 18
Assists: 4

Champions League 23/24 Stats

Appearances: 6
Minutes: 406
Goals: 4
Assists: –
Shots on target: 8
Dribbles: 10
Top Speed: 35.7 km/h
Im Madrider 4-3-3-System wurde Vinicius Junior in den letzten beiden Jahren dank seines Tempos und seiner Dribbelstärke zu einem spektakulärsten Spieler auf dem linken Flügel. Nach dem Abgang von Karim Benzema und dem Zugang von Jude Bellingham stellte Trainer Ancelotti in dieser Spielzeit häufig auf eine Doppelspitze um, so dass der Brasilianer mehr im Zentrum agiert.
Vinicius Junior developed intp spectacular player on the left wing and a crucial part of Real Madrid’s 4-3-3 system over the last two years thanks to his pace and dribbling strength. After the departure of Karim Benzema and the arrival of Jude Bellingham, coach Ancelotti sometimes runs a two-forward system that brings the Brazilian more centrally on the pitch.