Good match for Rose’s Germans, but the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 was decided by a masterpiece goal from the former Milan player who was injured towards the end. Lunin’s saves were decisive
– Madrid
A year ago in the group stage Madrid had lost 3-2 in Leipzig, today in the first leg of the round of 16 they won 1-0, taking a good step forward towards the quarter-finals at the end of a very difficult match for the Blancos which opened with a controversial episode and was decided by a great goal by Brahim Diaz, who later left due to a right calf problem. “I heard a shot but I can’t say more, we’ll see tomorrow,” said the former AC Milan player at the end of the match.
THE CHOICES
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Ancelotti recovered one of his 4 central defenders, Nacho, who was terrible, and placed Tchouameni alongside him with Carvajal who returned to the right. Lucas Vazquez out. And to replace the injured Bellingham the chosen one as expected is Brahim. Leipzig with the 4-man defence, when everyone was waiting for the 5-man defence. Olmo and Simons in front on the sides, Openda and Sesko in the middle.
THE CONTROVERSY
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And the twenty-year-old Slovenian was the absolute protagonist of the first 10′. Two saves by Lunin on Sesko’s shots which were not irresistible, but first of all, after less than 100 seconds, the striker’s goal was disallowed for offside. It is a physical interference by Henrichs on Lunin, with the Leipzig player touching the Ukrainian goalkeeper and is considered “active” despite having zero influence on the action which on a shot by Schlager leads to Sesko’s header .
BRAHIM’S THROAT
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After the scare, Madrid grew, but always remained under the pressure of Leipzig, pushed by a stadium in constant boiling. Germans always in control and often dangerous, Madrid clinging to Vinicius and Brahim. Who invented an incredible goal three minutes into the second half. He received the ball on the right sideline, resisted Raum’s charge and, returning, he made Simons and Schlager lose track of him before hitting the ball from the edge with his left foot towards the far post. Spectacular and uncatchable parable for Gulacsi and eighth goal of the season for the former AC Milan player. A glutton. Brahim got hurt in the 80th minute: right calf problem with the Germans continuing to play despite Brahim leaving the ball there due to the pain, and Lunin made yet another save on Sesko. Madrid feels the Champions League in the air, Leipzig has created and wasted and will try to reverse the result at the Bernabeu. Complicated.
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