One play. Extraordinary, but only one action, Jude Bellingham’s impressive start crowned by Viniucius saved Real Madrid from an elimination against the odds. It was inferior to Leipzig in all areas, including tactically. Tradition says that the white team manages its advantages badly in the playoffs, that the outburst and the epic suit them. In their attempt to manage the 0-1 in the first leg, they were at the mercy of a German team penalized for their lack of success. He had football and courage. And he did not make miracle history, like in that Centennial.
Ancelotti surprised from the start with a strange approach, against nature, and he paid for it. Leipzig showed in Germany that they do damage between the lines with agile and vertical football, with two touches. So he populated the center of the field to not let Olmo, Simons, Openda and Sesko, all fast attackers, run. It was a “guys, pay attention, this is the Champions League and you have to suffer to win.” Too much caution on a European night, one of those that have built the 122-year-old legend of the white club. Along with the 14 Champions Leagues and their comebacks, there are also the dark nights of Odense, Ajax, even Juve (0-3 in the first leg) or Chelsea (1-3). The game remembered those from its start, with that growing rumor from the Bernabéu that broke out in anger and whistles.
Vinicius goal (1-0) in Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig
Twice Openda forgave from the start, finishing in comfortable positions, activated by Simons first and then Olmo, damaging between the lines. We discount here Sesko’s one-on-one due to previous offside, one of those that the linemen allow to follow due to those very modern rules. He at least confirmed that Lunin was more involved than the rest of the team. It was enough for the Germans to take advantage of Madrid’s timidity and slowness. They did not put pressure on the starting targets, letting Leipzig do their thing, managing the advantage from the first leg while minimizing risks. Well, it went wrong, very wrong. The center did not govern the field, with Camavinga out of position. He was neither an interior nor a pivot nor a winger nor a midfielder. How would it be that Madrid’s first drinkable attack was an inside pass from Valverde to Bellingham that Orbán blocked with ease. Minute 26. Of course, in the 33rd minute the whistles started. At first timidly, but increasingly. A sustained attack by Leipzig ended in Openda’s volley into the side of the net and declared the fight. Overwhelming. Unequivocal. Fair punishment for a sleazy approach, terrible football, inappropriate for a Champions League candidate.
The first half was so awful that Ancelotti had no choice but to change at half-time. With how little he likes. Rodrygo entered, sacrificed in the initial bet after the decline in his game during the last month. The Bernabéu’s heart sank after a failed start by Lunin that was overtaken by Openda. Clear indication that his nerves were already weighing down his white legs. Leipzig had grown in play and confidence, although they were also beginning to open spaces in the rearguard. Rodrygo arrived, looking for the center back, well enabled by Carvajal. Gulacsi took out. But it was in a counter where the duel opened. Bellingham received 70 meters from the rival goal, with the only company of Vinicius in front of four defenders. He drove vertically, the ball stuck, waiting for Vini’s movement until he found the exact moment and point to put the Brazilian in front of the goal. He did not forgive. Great goal.
Orban’s goal (1-1) in Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig
The 1-0 score should have definitively cleared the tie. It was quite the opposite. Leipzig went all out and caused an attack of white panic by hanging balls, chasing the second plays, organizing themselves in the assault. Madrid was unable to move the ball away and leave its area, trapped. In that stress the ball fell to Raum on the left, he crossed comfortably, calmly, and Orbán headed straight into the net, anticipating Nacho.
Madrid collapsed with the tie. Neither ball nor position, he was at the mercy of the rival for a long time. He showed it in a foul in the media line in which no one chased Orbán, at the far post. To the rival’s best header. Openda failed to resolve. Modric came on for Kroos and then Joselu for Bellingham to defend the aerial game. Madrid gained some peace of mind, also because Leipzig felt its own changes and lost continuity. Even so, extra time was within a centimeter, which separated Dani Olmo’s shot from the goal instead of hitting the crossbar. The final absurdity concluded with a clearance by Valverde when the ball was lost down the wing in his favor, and Massa signaling the end when Leipzig began the last attack. Madrid is in the quarterfinals by a miracle, but it is there. Their continental future, less promising today than yesterday, depends on clarifying what happened in the entire tie and preventing it from being repeated.
2024-03-06 23:53:00
#Real #MadridLeipzig #Bellingham #Vini #avoid #disaster
