Real Madrid's Joselu (R) vies with RB Leipzig's David Raum during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid at Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on March 6, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
MADRID, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid rode their luck to enter the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a controversial 1-1 draw at home with RB Leipzig on Wednesday, which gifted them a 2-1 aggregate win.
Madrid's goal was scored by Vinicius Jr, who was very lucky not to have been sent off for aggression 10 minutes before scoring.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti picked a conservative starting 11 for his side in the wake of their 1-0 win in Germany three weeks ago.
The Italian opted to play Vinicius as his only specialist forward, with Aurelian Tchouameni back in a five-man midfield and Jude Bellingham in a free role behind Vinicius.
In the first half, Leipzig forward Lois Openda wasted two decent chances, curling wide with his right foot, and then dragging the ball across the face of goal with his left after twice finding space.
Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager earned a yellow card for taking out Vinicius as Madrid looked to break, before Valverde looked to feed Bellingham, whose effort from a tight angle was blocked.
Leipzig ended the half with two more chances as Xavi Simons saw a shot saved by Andriy Lunin after a long move and from the resulting corner Openda flashed the ball into the side netting.
Ancelotti made a change at halftime, replacing Eduardo Camavinga with Rodrygo to give his side more options in attack.
The second half began with controversy when Vinicius could have seen a red card after first charging into Willi Orban from behind and when the players exchanged words, pushing the defender to the floor.
The referee could easily have sent the Madrid player off for aggression, but opted to only show him a yellow card and that was a vital decision as the Brazilian put his side ahead in the 65th minute, running on to a Bellingham pass and scoring with a right-foot shot to give his side a 2-0 aggregate lead.
Orban got Leipzig back into the tie with an acrobatic header four minutes later.
The German side gave everything in the closing minutes looking for a goal to take the tie into extra-time, with Openda seeing a header blocked, Benjamin Sesko shooting at Lunin and Dani Olmo firing wide.
Olmo then saw a lob hit the Madrid crossbar in injury time as his side pinned Madrid back in their own penalty area. ■
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior (R) celebrates a goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid at Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on March 6, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga (C) vies with RB Leipzig´s Lois Openda(R) during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid at Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on March 6, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Real Madrid's Joselu(L) vies with RB Leipzig's Castello Lukeba during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid at Bernabeu stadium, in Madrid, Spain, on March 6, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
