Real Madrid lost to Leipzig in the Champions League

Absence of starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, three centre-backs out of four injured – with Nacho Fernández just recovered for the event – more Jude Bellingham as a differential factor, they indicate a return Real Madrid in the Champions Leaguee this Tuesday, February 13, warned the notice he issued Leipzig in the group stage of the last edition, but also with undeniable strength with Carlo Ancelotti in the round of 16.

With the peace of mind that comes with half of EA Sports LaLiga in your pocket, once you start the countdown to becoming the champion, once you win Girona in a duel for leadership and watching the collapse of direct rivals, Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid returns to his favorite field, “Champions”.

Delighted to work with a group in need. Overcoming every loss along the way from the beginning of the course, no matter how important they were, again Carlo AncelottiI am facing the exam in difficulties. Without a goalkeeper to make the difference. No centers. Beige Bellinghama footballer making history in his first season in white with 20 goals, in an unprecedented football mutation for a midfielder upon his arrival at Real Madrid.

Forced to innovate, ‘Carletto’ has to solve several questions. The first in the goal, where Andriy Lunin was placed, but the Italian coach kept the discourse of rotation in competitions. It should be your turn Kepa ArrizabalagBut you must be able to assess the performance or health of the group. Continuation of defense without leaders at center due to knee injuries Eder Militao and David Alaba. Due to premature muscle injury from Antonio Rüdiger.

Everything points to continuity Aurélien Tchouaménor in the demarcation to which she adapted well in necessity. And the return of Dani Carvajal to the side. By centimeters and by design. WITH nachor a starter despite being far from his best, having overcome a slight muscle problem.

The dimension obtained by the center of the field Toni Kroos in charge, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverdeand as perfect squires, it makes them unquestionable. From replacement for Bellingham It depends on the system. It is a natural replacement Brahim Diaz as a playmaker, but Ancelotti is studying the option of including Joselu Mata as a pure 9. Plan a possible return to 4-3-3 as a variant.

Ancelotti, the most successful coach of the competition, ensures success in the round of 16 by Real Madrid. With him in command the round was always overcome, despite the fact that PSG and Liverpool They were the last to cross the road. From 2019, when Manchester Pep Guardiola’s city was the executioner, the Madrid team did not fall in the first round. It comes after a string of group stage wins as a sign of the strength of a team that has a strong chance of becoming champions again.

Madrid’s total record in the second round of the Champions League, since the format change that disappears with this edition, is twelve wins and eight losses. They remind of those six years of curse. Fresher in the memory is the intensity that was missing when Real Madrid in it Red Bull Arenaand on the road in the group stage of the last edition. That’s Ancelotti’s warning to his players to join the effort, as they did against Gironain difficulties.

He RB Leipzig It’s different, yes. He comes to the match in a phase in which no results are given and in which he ended up being out of position in the Champions League ‘Bundesliga’.

In the last four games the Leipzig achieved one victory, a draw and two defeats, against Stuttgart (5-2) and Bayer Leverkusen (2-3). Some of the matches, especially the duel against Leverkusen in which they led twice and conceded a defeating goal in stoppage time, the game was better than the result, but they are starting to gather and little by little it is becoming a crisis.

In the last game againstl Augsburg (2-2), on Leipzig was close to victory, but Lois Openda missed the penalty. A situation that contrasts with his participation in Champions Leaguesurpassed only by the team Marcos Rose for Manchester City in two group games, winning the rest to reach the round of 16 for the fourth time in the last five years in a progressive rise.

– Possible adjustments:

RB Leipzig: Gulacs; Henrichs, Klostermann, Orban, Raum; Seiwald, X. Schlager; Dani Olmo, Xavi Simons; Openda and Šeško.

Real Madrid: Kepa or Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouaméni, Nacho, Mendy; Camavinga, Kroos, Fede Valverde, Brahim; Vinicius and Rodrygo.

Referee: Irfan Peljto (Bosnia)

Stadium: Red Bull Arena.