Boasting a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg in Leipzig three weeks ago, Real Madrid returned to the famed Bernabéu on Wednesday evening in a bid to confirm their progression to the quarterfinals of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League.
RMA: Lunin; Mendy, Nacho, Rüdiger, Carvajal; Camavinga, Kroos, Tchouaméni; Viní Jr, Bellingham, Valverde
RBL: Gulacsi; Raum, Lukeba, Orban, Henrichs; Schlager, Haidara; Simons, Olmo; Openda, Sesko
RB Leipzig had a flurry of chances that should really have seen them restore aggregate parity in this tie throughout the first hour minutes or so – but their failure to do so was swiftly pounced upon by an in-form los Blancos team.
With 65 minutes on the clock in the Spanish capital, Vinícius Jr bundled home from a Jude Bellingham assist to put Carlo Ancelotti’s side further ahead on aggregate.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut their newfound comfortable lead would last just three minutes, as RB Leipzig captain Willi Orban sent a diving headed attempt crashing into the bottom-right corner following a well-placed delivery from David Raum.
RB Leipzig looked to be the more comfortable side from that point on, with Dani Olmo coming close to stunning Spanish hearts as his looped header struck the woodwork in stoppage time – but as the final whistle blew at the Bernabéu, it was none other than the 14-time European champions that progress to the quarterfinals.
