Without too much confidence, despite the victory in Germany (0-1) and despite the fact that Carlo Ancelotti was at the helm Real Madrid has always surpassed the round of 16, the king of Europe receives Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabéu and wants to maintain the total number of victories in this edition of the Champions League, measuring its constancy after three draws of the last five LaLiga matches.
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With history on your side. They won 36 of the 38 European qualifiers in which they won the first leg away from home. Odense onlyin 1995 and in a lower step, the old UEFA Cup, and Ajax, more recently, in the 2019 Champions League, managed to turn a draw in the temple of Madrid.
Those were different times. The solidity of Real Madrid this season in Europe, with complete victories in the group stage and victory in Germany In the first leg of the round of 16, with Andriy Lunin equaling Thibaut Courtois’ record of saves in a European match to nine, he will be put to the test at a Bernabeu where Ancelotti’s men maintain consistency.
Ten wins and one draw in their last eleven matches. Without defeat since the scare against Chelsea in April 2022. In a similar situation, after winning the first leg at Stamford Bridge. Shaping the comeback of the ‘Champions’ in extra time. The fourteenth.
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The arrival of Jude Bellingham has fueled the desire for the fifteenth. The Englishman returns to the ‘Champions’, author of four goals in just five appearances as a Real Madrid player. Deadly. His absence was covered by Brahim Díaz who scored one of the goals of the season against Leipzig (0-1) and put the Madrid team ahead.
Carlo Ancelotti also restores Antonio Rüdiger in the center of defense, increasing security with regard to the instability of Germany. With a fast defender missing in the first leg, he tinkered with Leipzig’s transitions and against players with a lot of speed up front. The first doubts arise between Nacho and Aurélien Tchoauméni, with more opportunities for the captain, who was a substitute at Mestalla due to a physical problem.
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If so, ‘Carletto”s decision will be transferred to the midfield position, with Eduardo Camavinga demanding continuity in a midfield where Toni Kroos and Fede Valverde’s numbers are non-negotiable for the Italian coach. During the attack there is a fight between Rodrygo Goes and Brahim. The Brazilian has scored a goal in his last ten games, going four in a row without conceding a goal. The Spaniard is sweet and lifted Real Madrid at the Mestalla to avoid his second defeat of the season.
Leipzig arrive in Madrid looking for a comeback whose possibilities are viewed with some skepticism Germany due to the irregularity that the team has shown in recent matches and also the difficulty of beating the white team in their own backyard.
Dutch midfielder Xav Simons wanted to confront the skepticism in the air. “I say to everyone who has already ruled us out that nothing is impossible. I believe in my team, we have to enjoy the game and enjoy playing in that stadium,” he said.
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The 0-1 defeat in the first leg left its mark and the goal disallowed by Benjamin Sesko remains a subject of discussion. Xavi Simons is precisely one of Leipzig’s main attacking weapons. A big part of the German team’s hopes of turning the tie rests on him and Dani Olmo. The German team only topped one of the four rounds of sixteen matches they have played.
The return to the team of Austrian midfielder Xavi Schlager could be an important factor in providing stability to the midfield. At the top, Sesko and Louis Openda are expected to play, although Yussuf Poulsen could also be an alternative.
Leipzig have just beaten Bochum 4-1 in the Bundesliga, but are still one point below the places that qualify for the next edition of the Champions League.
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
