A frustrating defeat!
RB Leipzig falls just short in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League against Real Madrid 0-1 (0-0).
RBL got off to a great start to the game and found the back of the net in the 2nd minute through Benjamin Sesko, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call against Benjamin Henrichs. Sesko was also unlucky to find the goal on a few more occassions (the 10th and 20th minute), so the teams went scoreless into the break.
Shortly after the restart, Brahim Diaz gave Real the lead with a moment of individual brilliance from the edge of the penalty area (48′). Leipzig kept pressing and found chances through Dani Olmo (62nd, 71st), Benjamin Sesko (81st) and Amadou Haidara (84th), but ultimately had to settle for a defeat.
There’s still all to play for though with just a one-goal margin separating the teams heading into the second leg. On March 6th, RBL will hope to turn things around in Madrid and move into the quarter-finals.
Champions League | RB Leipzig – Real Madrid
Starting Lineups
RBL:
Gulacsi – Simakan, Orban (C), Klostermann, Raum – Henrichs (75. Haidara), Schlager (90. Kampl) – Olmo (75. Elmas,), Xavi – Openda (75. Poulsen), Sesko
RMA:
Lunin – Carvajal, Tchouameni, Nacho, Mendy – Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga – Brahim Diaz (84. Vazquez) – Rodrygo (84. Joselu), Vinicius Jr.
RBL Bench:
Blaswich (Tor), Zingerle (Tor) – Bitshiabu, Castello Jr., Lenz, Seiwald, Jatta, Baumgartner
RMA Bench:
Kepa (Tor), Fran (Tor) – Modric, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Güler, Martin, Paz, Carillo, Ramon
Goals
0:1 Brahim Diaz (48.)
Yellow Cards
Simakan (3.), Poulsen (2.), Sesko (1.) | Carvajal (1.), Vinicius Jr. (1.)
Officiating Crew
- Referee: Irfan Peljto
- First Assistant: Senad Ibrisimbegovic
- Second Assistant: Davor Beljo
- Fourth Official: Milos Gigovic
- Video Assistant: Pol van Boekel
- VAR Assistant: Dennis Higler
Attendance
45,028 in the RB-Arena (Sold out home section)
2. Minute: Sesko scores! But it doesn’t count
- RB Leipzig puts the ball in the back of the net, but the goal doesn’t count! Xaver Schlager shoots from 20 meters, firing the ball into the penalty area where Benjamin Sesko is waiting to head it in. But the flag goes up for offside.
Referee rules that Benjamin Henrichs may have hindered the goalkeeper.Tough decision!
10. Minute: Sesko battling with Lunin!
- Strong opening phase for the Red Bulls, continuously playing quickly and directly towards the goal. Benjamin Sesko again has the ball in the penalty area on the right after a chance created by Dani Olmo. Sesko shoots, but Andriy Lunin can parry.
15. Minute: Henrichs from distance
- Stong start to the match from RBL. This time, Benjamin Henrichs has some space in front of the penalty area and shoots from about 20 meters. Unfortunately, the ball can’t quite find the corner and the Real Madrid goalkeeper saves easily.
20. Minute: Sesko in the outside netting!
- Immer wieder schafft es Benjamin Sesko, in gefährliche Räume vorzudringen. Erneut ist es Dani Olmo, der unseren Angreifer rechts in der Box freispielt, diesmal wird Seskos Schuss aus spitzem Winkel von Aurelien Tchouameni ans Außennetz abgefälscht.
- Benjamin Sesko keeps managing to find dangerous spaces. Once again, it is Dani Olmo who frees up our attacker in the box on the right. This time Sesko’s shot from a tight angle is deflected into the side netting by Aurelien Tchouameni.
38. Minute: Quieter Phase
The game is starting to slow down a bit after a furious start from RB Leipzig. RBL has had the better better chances so far, with just a long-range effort from Toni Kroos the closest Real Madrid have come
48. Minute: Real gets
A single moment gives our opponent the lead. Brahim Diaz beats David Raum, Xavi and Xaver Schlager one after the other and then curls the ball unstoppably from the edge of the penalty area into the left corner. That’s bitter after RBL played such a strong first half.
62. Minute: Olmo skews it wide
Real Madrid started the second half strong, but RBL is picking back up the pressure now. Xavi finds Dani Olmo on the right side of the penalty area, but unfortunately our number 7 misses the turn and shoots wide of the goal.
72. Minute: Opportunities on both sides
Up and down game as Dani Olmo‘s shot from distance and is saved by the Real Madrid goalkeeper, while while Vinicius Jr. comes right back up the field and hits the post on the other side. Great opportunities, but the narrow lead remains for Real Madrid.
81. Minute: Double chance for RBL!
Xavi once again shows his class on the ball, plucking it out of thin air and shooting from 18 meters, but Lunin is able to save. He’s called into action against with Benjamin Sesko‘s powerful effort, but is up to the task again. That could’ve been the equalizer!
84. Minute: Haidara tests Lunin
It’s unbelievable, but the ball just won’t go in! Substitute Amadou Haidara puts an effort toward goal off a set piece, but Andriy Lunin parries again.
