RB Leipzig could not continue its upward trend. The win against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga was followed by a defeat at Champions League title holders Real Madrid.
Despite a courageous performance, RB Leipzig missed out on a potential surprise win against Real Madrid. In the second group game of the Champions League, the Saxons put the defending champion under serious pressure, but in the end had to admit defeat 0:2 (0:0).
The trend reversal initiated under the new coach Marco Rose confirmed Leipzig at least in terms of fight and commitment. At the bottom of Group F, the Saxons are under massive pressure in the fight to survive the winter in the European Cup. At the start, Leipzig lost to Schachtor Donetsk (1:4).
Next opponents are Celtic Glasgow (October 5). Federico Valverde (80th) and Marco Asensio (90th + 1) scored for the long disappointing royal team. Substitute ex-national player Toni Kroos prepared the 2-0.
Technical errors at Real
As requested by Rose, RB showed no reverence for the crowd and the Spanish champions. In a confused initial phase, both sides initially lacked the pace. Leipzig quickly gained security.
Technical mistakes by Madrid were conspicuously often favored in the Leipzig game. RB used the unusual weakness for their own offensive actions. Playmaker Emil Forsberg sent Christopher Nkunku steeply after a miss at Real Madrid, but the Frenchman was denied by Thibaut Courtois (5′). Leipzig narrowed the spaces in the center, and RB also didn’t allow anything on the outside.
Hardly any problems for goalkeeper Gulacsi
The switching game also worked. The fast duo Timo Werner and Nkunku had a lot of space after winning the ball, which they used and created chances. Forsberg (21st), Werner (30th) and Nkunku (34th), who narrowly missed a sharp cross from the national striker, had the lead on the foot.
Real didn’t get RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi into any significant difficulties in the first round. Rüdiger (38′) with a header and playmaker Luka Modric (41′) missed the goal. The audience sent Real into the break with a whistling concert.
Leipzig didn’t change their style of play even after the change of sides and kept the frustration factor high at Madrid. A lot happened in midfield, the pace flattened out. Both teams appeared less and less in front of the gates. The strong Vinicius Junior failed at Real’s best chance to date at Gulacsi from close range (72′).