The direct elimination phase of the match opened today Champions League stagione 2023-2024: four matches valid for the round of 16 are scheduled, and tonight the first two took place which saw the Copenhagen and Manchester City on one side and Leipzig against Real Madrid on the other. In this round the favorites achieved success, although their rivals were certainly not resigned to the role of sparring partners.
In particular, the first half was a cold sweat for Citizens and Blancos, but Guardiola’s men managed to get the upper hand thanks to Kevin De Bruyne, in his first appearance this season and immediately in the net, a Bernardo Silva ea Foden, also author of the winning assist for the first goal. Real Madrid pay for absences, stop it a remarkable goal scored by Brahim Diaz to close the case, as well as an excellent job done by Lunin: it’s thanks to him that Los Blancos didn’t let Leipzig catch up, who came close to equalizing several times. Some protests from the German side for a network of Sesco canceled in the opening minutes of the first half and missing on several occasions. But in the meantime Ancelotti, after Bellingham’s withdrawal, he will also have to deal with the injury suffered at the end of the match by Brahim Diaz himself.
Copenhagen-Manchester United, the pre-match
Let’s start from a battle in which the hosts were underdogs against the outgoing European cup champions, despite the fact that we are talking about a team capable of eliminating rivals such as Galatasaray and Manchester United in the previous stages: the Danes coached by the 35-year-old Jacob Neestrup they lined up with the confirmed 4-3-3, with Vavro, McKenna and Diks in defence, Diogo Gonçalves in midfield and the three strikers Elyounoussi, Claesson and Achouri (Cornelius on the bench, Lerager suspended). Guardiola he responded with the found Walker manning the defense together with Stones, Dias and Aké. Also here again De Bruyne in midfield, with Foden and Grealish (who takes his place in the sun by beating Alvarez) behind Haaland.
Leipzig – Real Madrid, the pre-match (and a small hiccup for Los Blancos)
The team of Marco Rosesecond in group G behind City in the group stage, presented themselves with a 4-4-2 with the attacking duo Openda and Sesko, capable of adding up a total of 29 goals in the season. In midfield Olmo and Simons, together with Henrich’s hits. Elmas started from the bench.
As for Los Blancos, record holders in group C and clean sheet of six victories in the group stage, Ancelotti was able to recover in midfield Nacho, deployed together with Mendy and Tchouaméni. But at the same time he had to to do without Bellingham, who suffered a sprained ankle. The coach opted for the attacking trident on Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr and Brahim Diaz behind them.
Gleanings for Real: the team had to face two unexpected events in approaching the first leg match. First of all, Los Blancos were forced to land in Erfurt, over 150 km from Leipzig, due to an aircraft strike. Subsequently, the bus that took them to the stadium, while traveling along the A4 motorway, he was lightly hit by a car at the height between Eichelborn and Nohra.
As Bild reports, the accident was caused by a rash change of lane, but for Marca – which reports the reconstruction from Real Madrid sources – the cause of the accident was attributable to the fact that the driver of the car as far as apparently he was filming the team bus, then losing control of the vehicle and colliding with the bus, without the occupants on board feeling the bang. Nothing terrible, in short, but just a few scratches on the bodywork.
Maybe you might be interested
Champions League, here is the new format: goodbye groups, welcome big groups and what a prize money for those who win
Copenhagen-Man City, first half: Citizens lead, but Grealish loses
First half lead for City, who with De Bruyne (servito da Foden) takes the lead in the first ten minutes of the match. However, in the following minutes Guardiola loses Grealishout due to a muscular problem (he will be replaced in the 21st minute by Tissue). Just before the half hour mark the Citizens came close to doubling their lead, first with Vavro (who heads the ball onto the crossbar) and then with Haaland, with a semi-overhand shot. It will therefore be Copenhagen who mock the guests with Mattsson bringing the match to a draw in the 34th minutewith a goal scored from a clearance from the opposing defence.
But then De Bruyne inspired a new lead for Guardiola’s men. The Belgian triggers Bernardo Silva who pushes the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal in the 45th minute.
Second half: City closes the practice
At the start of the second half the Danes started aggressively, with a first opportunity arising from the development of a corner kick, which however was not capitalized. City, author of the most ball possession, then tries with De Bruyne che serve Haalandwho intercepts the ball with his head without surprising the Copenhagen goalkeeper.
The attempts by Rodri first and then by Foden to further extend the lead of Guardiola’s team were in vain, but in the 88th minute the guests conquered a precious free kick thanks to Haaland, whose shot, however, was saved. However, when the match is winding down City closes the practice thanks to Foden, who surprises Grabara from the center of the area.
Leipzig-Real Madrid, first half: blank goals and some protests
Real Madrid don’t shine that much in the first half, paying for the absences in the defensive department and in Bellingham. The first 45 minutes ended goalless, despite Leipzig’s virtual advantage already in the very first minutes (thanks to Sesco), but not validated for an active offside by Henrichs.
Sesko himself came forward again in the 10th minute, and five minutes later Henrichs was back. In short, there is no shortage of opportunities on the German side, but in the 23rd minute Real Madrid come through Rodrygoserved by Viniciuswho however fails to reach the net with his left foot.
Second half: bad news for Ancelotti, Diaz out
In the second half Ancelotti’s men found the net the coveted advantage thanks to Brahim Díaz, who, following an assist from Carvajal, turns into the area and sends the ball into the upper left corner of the goal. In the 64th minute Rodrygo brought Los Blancos close to doubling their lead, but the shot was too high. It didn’t end there because in the 72nd minute Vinicius hit the post with his right foot.
Ten minutes later Sesko attempted the equaliser, prevented by Lunin’s save. In the 84th minute, Real gave up Diaz, who was struggling with a muscle problem to his right calf and therefore replaced with Joselu. The match ends without further shocks, handing Ancelotti’s men a hard-fought victory.
Champions League, where and how to watch the matches (also free and free-to-air)
Fonte: Getty Images
2024-02-13 22:01:00
#Manchester #City #finds #Bruyne #prevails #Copenhagen #Real #suffers #Leipzig
