UCL preview: A decider for Madrid

With a narrow lead from the first tie, Real Madrid will fancy their chances of qualification to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Leipzig, although losing by a goal to Madrid at the Red Bull Arena earlier in February, despite managing nine shots on target against Andriy Lunin, the German side would be gunning towards overturning the result.

Real Madrid will be with Jude Bellingham, who missed the first leg through injury and also several key players like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Rudiger, Joselu are available for selection for the second tie after returning from spells on the sidelines although goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and centre-backs David Alaba and Éder Militão remains out.

Leipzig will be without Mohamed Simakan who is absent through suspension and centre back, Lukas Klostermann through while Amadou Haidara has brushed off concerns over a knee injury.

The visitors would be hoping to emulate their winning feat on Saturday after crushing Bochum in a 4-1 Bundesliga away victory and also expect forward, Benjamin Sesko who impressed in the opening meeting to find the net for his team in the return tie.

Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig Stats

Real Madrid have only failed to progress from one of their last 20 two-legged ties in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages after winning the first leg while Leipzig haven’t won any of their last six games in the knockout stages of the Champions League (D1 L5), failing to score in five of those six.

Leipzig have also been eliminated on the last two occasions when failing to win the first leg in a knockout stage tie in the competition, with both of those coming in the round of 16, against Liverpool in 2020-21 and Manchester City in 2022-23.

A win for Madrid would mean an eighth successive win in this year’s Champions League, their longest ever winning run in a single campaign in the competition (also won their first seven in 2014-15, under Ancelotti).

Leipzig Sesko could become the youngest visiting player to score in a Champions League knockout stage game at the Bernabéu since Leroy Sané in March 2015, for Schalke as a 19-year-old.

Madrid have won two of their three games against Leipzig in the Champions League, losing one with previous meeting ended in a 2-0 win, in favour of the Spanish giant at the Bernabeu (2022-23).

PREDICTION

Real Madrid 2 vs 1 RB Leipzig