Real Madrid secured their place in the last eight of the Champions League with a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night. The Spanish giants had a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg, thanks to a stunning solo goal by Brahim Díaz, and they managed to hold off the German side’s spirited challenge.
Díaz strikes again to put Madrid ahead
The hosts started brightly and took the lead in the 12th minute, when Díaz scored his second goal of the tie. The 22-year-old winger, who has been in impressive form this season, received a pass from Vinícius Júnior on the right flank, cut inside and curled a left-footed shot into the far corner of the net. It was a superb finish that gave Leipzig goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi no chance.
Díaz, who joined Madrid from Manchester City in 2019, has now scored five goals in seven Champions League appearances this season, making him the joint-top scorer of the competition along with Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.
Leipzig fight back to level the score
Leipzig, who were playing in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history, did not give up and showed their quality and resilience. They equalized in the 34th minute, when Lukas Openda headed in a cross from Dominik Raum. The Belgian forward, who is on loan from Club Brugge, scored his fourth goal of the campaign and his first in the Champions League.
The visitors continued to press for a second goal that would have put them ahead on away goals, but they were denied by some fine saves from Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. The Ukrainian, who is filling in for the injured Thibaut Courtois, made nine stops in total, including a crucial one in the 89th minute to keep out a header from Brian Brobbey.
Madrid hold on to book their spot in the last eight
Madrid, who have won the Champions League a record 14 times, showed their experience and composure in the closing stages and managed to see out the game. They had a few chances to extend their lead, but Gulácsi was also in good form and made some important interventions.
The final whistle sparked celebrations among the Madrid players and fans, who were relieved to have survived a tough test from Leipzig. The draw meant that Madrid won the tie 2-1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2018, when they lifted their last trophy under Zinedine Zidane.
Leipzig, meanwhile, bowed out with their heads held high, having given a good account of themselves in their debut season in the Champions League. They finished second in their group behind Paris Saint-Germain and eliminated Manchester United in the process. They also pushed Madrid to the limit and proved that they belong among Europe’s elite.
What’s next for both teams?
Madrid will find out their opponents for the quarter-finals on Friday, when the draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland. They will be hoping to avoid the likes of Bayern Munich, PSG and Manchester City, who are among the favourites to win the competition.
Leipzig will turn their attention to the Bundesliga, where they are currently fifth, seven points behind leaders Bayern. They will also face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal, the German cup, later this month.
