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Champions League: RB Leipzig after beating Atletico in the semi-finals

AAt the end of the day, RB Leipzig proved that the stage for the quarter-finals wasn’t too big after all. Julian Nagelsmann’s team won against Atletico Madrid 2-1 (0-0) and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time. Tyler Adams scored the decisive goal just before the end. Now the next European heavyweight is waiting.

“When I got in, I wanted to bring energy into the game. The goal came as a surprise to me too. I’m not really known for goals. I just wanted to have an impact on the game. Paris is a strong team, we are excited and looking forward to it, “said Adams a few minutes after the final whistle on Sky.

Even before the game, Nagelsmann had radiated optimism. “We’ll try to play our game, we’re focused on ourselves – anything can happen in just one game as opposed to two games,” said Leipzig’s coach.

Nagelsmann also celebrated a personal record with the victory: the Leipzig coach had only turned 33 a few weeks ago and is now the youngest coach in a Champions League semi-final.

Leipzig starts well

The initial phase belonged to the Leipzigers. The players around captain Yussuf Poulsen determined the first few minutes just as confidently as their coach. But Marcel Halstenberg hastily missed the first chance of the game (4th). Less than ten minutes later, Atletico showed the muscles for the first time. After a quick attack on the left side, Yannick Carrasco shot at Leipziger Tor, Peter Gulasci parried brilliantly.

Julian Nagelsmann showed a lot of commitment on the sidelines

Quelle: Getty Images/Pool

Leipzig had already played in Lisbon this season. At the start of the group stage, the Nagelsmann team won 2-1 against Benfica, both goals being scored by Timo Werner. The striker, who switched to Chelsea a few weeks ago, was in RB’s last 4 CL games, Timo Werner was either a goal scorer or a preparer for a goal in Leipzig.

Against Atletico, the lack of the national player on the offensive of his former team was hardly noticeable. Yussuf Poulsen, who got Nagelsmann’s trust for the ailing Patrik Schick, did not really get into the game.

Atletico shows experience

Instead, the Spaniards slowly but surely took control of the game. Again and again Atletico cleverly fouls and got free kicks from the half field. Leipzig made seven fouls in the first half hour; the dreaded warrior from Madrid just one thing.

In Madrid midfield, Saul (98.2 km) and Koke (96.3 km), the two most enthusiastic players of this Champions League season, set the pace. In defense, Simeone had ordered his eleven to be staggered closely. His team did the rest with the necessary experience. A clear advantage over RB, which nevertheless fought bravely. Dayot Upamecano headed a little too centered on goal after a corner just before the break (45th).

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For the people of Leipzig it was an evening of premieres. The first quarter-final game in the premier class, the first duel with Atletico Madrid, the first duel with a team from the Primera Division ever. The Spaniards, vaccinated in recent years with the combat readiness of their trainer Diego Simeone, have already reached the last eight six times. The starting eleven of Atletico drew into the duel with the experience of 372 CL battles, the eleven Leipzig only came to 127 missions. Football is like boxing, you have to know when to attack, Simeone is accustomed to emphasize.

Leipzig leads, then comes Joao Felix

The first hit of the game, however, was Leipzig. This time the Nagelsmann team consistently played an attack to the end. After a cross from Marcel Sabitzer, Dani Olmo headed freely in the middle and nodded to 1-0 (50th). His coach clenched his fists on the sidelines. For Olmo, who was signed for 19 million euros in the winter, it was the first goal in the premier class for Leipzig.

FBL-EUR-C1-LEIPZIG-ATLETICO

Joao Felix is ​​rudely stopped by Lukas Klostermann

Source: AFP / LLUIS GENE

Simeone reacted and brought super talent Joao Felix, who after all cost 107 million euros more than Olmo (58th). Felix, the most expensive purchase in the history of Astleti, justified his substitution a few minutes later. Felix danced through the Leipzig defense until he was knocked off his feet by Lukas Klostermann in the penalty area. The fouled kicked himself and turned ice cold on the bottom left to equalize (71.).

But Leipzig did not allow itself to be disrupted. In the 88th minute, RB started to knock out. Tyler Adams’s shot, albeit deflected, crashed into the Madrid goal. 2: 1. It was also the first goal in the Leipzig jersey for the American. It crowned the Leipzig evening of premieres.

Werner also congratulates

In the more than seven minutes of stoppage time, Leipzig played as confidently as one is actually used to from the Simeone-Elf. This is the first time that RB is in the semi-finals of the Champions League and meets Paris Saint-Germain there.

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Incidentally, Werner was among the first to congratulate. “Congratulations guys,” wrote the 24-year-old on Instagram and added applauding hands and a muscular upper arm to his message.

“I’m very proud, we were the better team. I didn’t notice any nervousness, it was very ripped off, ”Nagelsmann emphasized afterwards. Now he is looking forward to the duel with Paris and Thomas Tuchel.

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