Champions League - Round of 16 - 2nd Leg
Real MadridReal Madrid1RB LeipzigRB Leipzig1

Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig (agg 2-1): Vinicius Junior makes visitors pay for missed chances

By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior celebrate
Vinicius Junior has been involved in 14 goals in his past 13 Champions League matches, scoring eight and providing six assists

Real Madrid reached the Champions League quarter-finals as Vinicius Junior provided the quality finish that RB Leipzig lacked to secure a 2-1 aggregate win in the last 16.

Like the first leg, German side Leipzig were made to pay for wasting a host of chances when Vinicius clipped in Jude Bellingham's pass with 25 minutes left for a 2-0 lead.

Leipzig finally converted an opportunity three minutes later when skipper Willi Orban flicked in a header.

The goal provided renewed belief to the Bundesliga side and they continued to open up the Spanish league leaders as they searched for a leveller.

Former Barcelona youngster Dani Olmo came the closest to taking the tie into extra time - because away goals no longer count in Uefa competitions - when his looping header clipped the top of the crossbar in injury time.

But Real, aiming to become European champions for a record-extending 15th time, managed to hold out and reach the quarter-finals for the 12th time in the past 14 seasons.

Carlo Ancelotti's side will find out their quarter-finals opponents when the draw for the last eight is made on Friday, 15 March (11:00 GMT).

'World-class goal from world-class players' puts Madrid through

Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig: Carlo Ancelotti says his side deserved to be booed

Holding a slender lead thanks to Brahim Diaz's superb winner in the first leg, there was an expectation on Real to demonstrate their quality and experience to see the job through on home turf.

Ancelotti was keen to make clear that the tie was far from over, reinforcing the point during his pre-match news conference to ensure there was no complacency among his ranks.

But his side responded with a subdued performance and, judging on the balance of play in both matches, were rather fortunate to progress.

Real did not register an effort on target in the first half and continued to lack ideas after the break.

Whistles from the Bernabeu stands when Leipzig had possession indicated the concern of the home fans and their exasperation grew as Real continued to cheaply give away possession.

However, they possess a wealth of devastating attacking talent - led by Brazil forward Vinicius and England midfielder Bellingham - and the home side eventually clicked into gear.

Germany midfield maestro Toni Kroos won back possession on the edge of his own penalty area, using his speed of mind to set Bellingham away on the counter attack - and that was ominous for Leipzig.

Bellingham confidently strode forward before picking out the run of Vinicius, who intelligently cut inside from the left into a central area and sweetly drove a rising shot into the top corner.

Jude Bellingham plays a pass for Real Madrid
Bellingham is the first English player to register at least four goals, and at least four assists, in a Champions League season since Liverpool's Steven Gerrard in 2007-08

One flash of brilliance, like it did in the first leg in Germany, proved enough for the Spanish side but they know a better performance will be required whoever they face in the quarter-finals.

"It is a world-class goal from world-class players. Madrid were bang average in the two games. But world-class players can win matches in the blink of an eye," former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves said on TNT Sports.

The home side were penned back by Leipzig for a significant portion of the game, conceding 20 shots at their goal as the visitors showed fearlessness and bravery in front of 80,000 fans at the recently-renovated Bernabeu.

The clearest chances fell to Belgium striker Lois Openda but his lack of composure in threatening areas stopped Leipzig levelling the tie, which would have given them a platform to try and win it.

Instead the late onslaught proved too little too late. Ultimately, the efforts of the 2019-20 semi-finalists were fruitless as they failed to go beyond the last 16 for the fourth successive season.

Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

  • 13Lunin
  • 2Carvajal
  • 22Rüdiger
  • 6Nacho
  • 23Mendy
  • 18TchouaméniBooked at 73mins
  • 8KroosBooked at 75minsSubstituted forModricat 78'minutes
  • 12CamavingaSubstituted forRodrygoat 45'minutes
  • 15Valverde
  • 5BellinghamSubstituted forJoseluat 85'minutes
  • 7Vinícius JúniorBooked at 54mins

Substitutes

  • 10Modric
  • 11Rodrygo
  • 14Joselu
  • 17Vázquez
  • 19Ceballos
  • 20García
  • 21Díaz
  • 24Güler
  • 25Arrizabalaga Revuelta
  • 30González Pérez

RB Leipzig

Formation 4-2-2-2

  • 1Gulácsi
  • 39Henrichs
  • 4OrbánBooked at 71mins
  • 23Lukeba
  • 22RaumBooked at 50mins
  • 8HaidaraSubstituted forKamplat 90'minutes
  • 24SchlagerBooked at 20minsSubstituted forElmasat 85'minutes
  • 7Olmo
  • 20Simons
  • 30SeskoSubstituted forBaumgartnerat 85'minutes
  • 17OpendaSubstituted forPoulsenat 77'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Lenz
  • 5Bitshiabu
  • 6Elmas
  • 9Poulsen
  • 13Seiwald
  • 14Baumgartner
  • 21Blaswich
  • 25Zingerle
  • 38Jatta
  • 44Kampl
Referee:
Davide Massa
Attendance:
76,126

Match Stats

Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamRB Leipzig
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home11
Away20
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away8
Fouls
Home12
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Real Madrid 1, RB Leipzig 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Real Madrid 1, RB Leipzig 1.

  3. Post update

    Hand ball by David Raum (RB Leipzig).

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Willi Orbán (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Xavi Simons with a cross.

  5. Post update

    Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Joselu.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Joselu (Real Madrid).

  7. Post update

    Eljif Elmas (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Christoph Baumgartner with a headed pass.

  9. Post update

    Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Ferland Mendy.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, RB Leipzig. Kevin Kampl replaces Amadou Haidara.

  11. Post update

    Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig).

  13. Post update

    Attempt saved. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joselu.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Joselu (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rodrygo with a cross.

  15. Post update

    Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig).

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, RB Leipzig. Eljif Elmas replaces Xaver Schlager.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, RB Leipzig. Christoph Baumgartner replaces Benjamin Sesko.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Real Madrid. Joselu replaces Jude Bellingham.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Willi Orbán (RB Leipzig) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by David Raum with a cross following a corner.

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A

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2FC Copenhagen62228808
3Galatasaray61231013-35
4Man Utd61141215-34

B

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1Arsenal64111641213
2PSV Eindhoven6231810-29
3Lens6222611-58
4Sevilla6024712-52

C

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D

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E

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1Atl Madrid64201761114
2Lazio631277010
3Feyenoord6204910-16
4Celtic6114515-104

F

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G

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1Man City66001871118
2RB Leipzig64021310312
3Young Boys6114713-64
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H

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3Shakhtar Donetsk63031012-29
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