Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig - The German Club Could Shock The Spanish Giants At Home

Real Madrid will host RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. Brahim Diaz scored the only goal in the first leg at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig to give the visitors a crucial advantage before the decisive leg at home in Madrid.

The first leg was evenly matched, and the hosts got more shots on target, but Andriy Lunin’s stellar performance between the sticks helped Madrid keep a clean sheet. At the other end, Los Blancos were incredibly wasteful as they managed to keep just three out of 15 shots on target. One of those shots came after Diaz’s mazy run and curled into the back of the net.

Real Madrid’s only home game after facing RB Leipzig came against Sevilla in La Liga. Luka Modric scored the only goal of that match and extended Madrid’s unbeaten run at home to 18 games. Los Blancos’ last home loss came in April last year against Villarreal in a five-goal thriller. Since then, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been prolific in their backyard.

Madrid have lost just one of their last 31 games in all competitions and are hungry for a win after the side were fuming and frustrated this past weekend at the Mestalla against Valencia. Jude Bellingham’s glancing header flew into the back of the net just after the referee blew the full-time whistle. The potential winning goal was disallowed, and Bellingham was sent off for his reaction.

Beating Real Madrid in their own backyard is an improbable task, especially for a team like RB Leipzig. However, the hosts only have a slender advantage that can be overturned under controversial or dramatic circumstances. The visitors will aim for that when they walk out on the Bernabeu pitch.

Leipzig cannot be underestimated on the road. They have lost one of their three away games in the Champions League this season and won five of 12 away games in the Bundesliga, drawing two and losing five in the process. Leipzig also beat Borussia Dortmund in their own backyard in December.

The bookmakers will back the hosts in this encounter, but this tie is far from over. Madrid have the upper hand, but there is room for a dramatic Leipzig comeback. The visitors only need to play their football and not get intimidated by the atmosphere inside the stadium.

Ancelotti will be wary of Leipzig’s true potential and field a strong lineup. Bellingham will play the full 90 minutes because he will miss the domestic encounters due to suspension. This will be a tightly contested encounter, but eventually, Madrid will emerge victorious.