MADRID – Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig on Wednesday, progressing 2-1 on aggregate after a tense encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Despite the record 14-time champions showing signs of struggle, they managed to hold off their Bundesliga opponents over the two legs of the last-16 tie.
The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Vinicius Junior capitalized on a well-crafted opportunity orchestrated by Jude Bellingham to put Madrid ahead.
However, their lead was short-lived as Willi Orban swiftly responded for Leipzig, levelling the scoreline.
Reflecting on the performance, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “We played badly, with little intensity, with worries … the psychological aspect conditioned our game a lot.”
Ancelotti emphasized the importance of overcoming challenges, noting, “When things don’t go as you want, you have to battle, to fight, to play games like today’s that make you grow and learn.”
Despite Leipzig‘s strong showing, particularly in the first half, Madrid managed to weather the storm and hold on to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.
“If you add the 180 minutes up, we clearly had the better chances -– I don’t know how they scored today,” remarked Leipzig defender Benjamin Henrichs, expressing frustration at his team’s elimination.
“We played so well, and it’s so tough that we’re out.”
Madrid’s progression to the next round serves as a testament to their resilience and determination, despite facing stiff competition from Leipzig.
As they look ahead to the quarter-finals, Ancelotti and his side will be eager to build on this result and continue their pursuit of Champions League glory.
