Real Madrid came up short against Leipzig, but still sit top of Champions League Group F and will play to go through as group winners on the final matchday, which sees them take on Celtic at the Santiago Bernabéu (Wednesday, 2 November, 6:45pm CET). The German side went ahead with two goals in a five-minute spell, but Vini Jr. hit back before half-time. Werner then made it 3-1 in the second half and Rodrygo struck in injury time to make it 3-2.
No-one at Real Madrid will be stingy in their appreciation of this display by the winners but two things will sting. This is the end of their unbeaten record, 17 games into the season, and that's a dent in their pride. Secondly, they dominated after half-time and missed a lovely chance to go 2-2 just before Leipzig scored their third. The champions go home licking their wounds.
The reigning European champions were the first to fire off a warning shot, when Tchouameni headed wide from an Asensio cross from the right (5’). Just a few minutes later, Leipzig responded in decisive fashion. Szoboszlai's corner was met by André Silva's powerful header, only for Courtois to make a stunning save to keep it out, but Gvardiol pounced on the loose ball to make it 1-0.
The goal sent the confidence coursing through the hosts. Courtois was immediately called into action to deny by a brilliant left-footed curler by Amadou Haidara, though he could do nothing to stop Leipzig from scoring two minutes later. From a corner the ball somewhat fortuitously dropped to Christopher Nkunku, and he smashed his strike off the underside of the bar. At 2-0 down, Ancelotti's team pushed on and carved out a series of chances, with Vini Jr. shooting over on 25', before Blaswich was forced to turn Rodrygo's fierce drive behind ten minutes later.
The madridistas continued to press and once again Vini Jr. went close to pulling a goal back with a left-footed strike that the home keeper parried (37`). Just when it seemed Leipzig would head into the break up by two, Real Madrid clawed one back with a well-taken header from Vinicius. The Brazilian finally got the reward for his insistence on the stroke of half-time when he superbly headed home a dinked cross from Asensio from the right to beat Blaswich.
After the restart, Madrid applied the early pressure, but Leipzig had the chance to make it 3-1 when substitute Werner’s cross-shot narrowly missed the target. Real Madrid pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Carlo Ancelotti's men struggled to create much in terms of clear cut chances. The Whites soon hit back and in the 79th minute carved out their best chance of the half to draw level. Hazard and Asensio, combined well before the latter fizzed in a low cross which Vini Jr. turned inches wide of the near post.
Leipzig extended their lead two minutes later. The home side wrapped up proceedings in the 81st minute after a bursting run forward by Mohamed Simakan. The Frenchman then slid a ball across the face of goal, with Werner getting in-between Courtois and the defense to tap home. The visitors, however, kept plugging away and in stoppage time Rodrygo was fouled in the box earning a penalty kick. It was the Brazilian himself who took the responsibility to convert the spot kick and make it 3-2. Unfortunately there was no time left to search for an equalizer, as Real Madrid suffers the first loss of the season.
Comentarios