In their Champions League round-of-16 opening leg duel, Real Madrid secured a valuable 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig. Phil Agius predicts that at their home ground, the distinguished Spanish club will broaden their lead.
- In an impressive display of performance, Real Madrid have managed to secure their home turf without a single defeat throughout this current season across all competitive matches.
- RB Leipzig has managed to find the back of the net in seven out of their most recent eight matches.
- Recommended bet: Real Madrid win & over 2.5 goals
Team news
Real Madrid will once again have to persevere without their key players as Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Eder Militao remain on the sidelines due to their long-term injuries. However, the good news for the Madridistas is that Jude Bellingham will be back on the field for this game after missing out on the first leg.
In contrast, Leipzig will have to do without defender Mohamed Simakan, who has been suspended for this game after amassing three yellow cards in the Champions League this season. While his absence may be a blow to the team, Leipzig will be looking to make up for it with the rest of their squad.
Defender Lukas Klostermann remains sidelined owing to a hip injury, but midfielder Xaver Schlager is now eligible for selection following a domestic suspension. Noteworthy is the impressive performance of Lois Openda, who put the ball into the net on Saturday and is now vying for a starting position.
The stats
Real Madrid have been on a commendable winning streak, having triumphed in nine of their past ten home matches. Impressively, they have also emerged victorious in all three of their home Champions League group games, with a staggering aggregate score of 8-2. In their recent 13 matches across all competitions, there have been over 2.5 goals in eight of them, firmly establishing Real’s offensive prowess.
RB Leipzig, their upcoming opponents, have been formidable away from home, witnessing over three goals in their last four away games. Marco Rose’s men have been in fine form, manifesting through a lack of failure to score in all but one of their last eight games. It’s a clash of the titans set to provide abundant excitement and we eagerly await the outcome.
Prediction
Real Madrid’s victory against RB Leipzig in their first match might have been considered a stroke of luck, with the German team having numerous opportunities to score at the Red Bull Arena. Nevertheless, their triumph, coupled with a clean sheet, has put them at an advantage to advance to the last eight, given their exceptional performance at the Bernabeu this season. In 12 home league games thus far, they have emerged victorious in ten and drawn two, and won all three of their Champions League group matches too, recording wins against Union Berlin, Braga and Napoli. It is noteworthy that only the Berlin game, out of the six in their group stage, did not witness at least three goals. Hence, a Madrid win in a match with over 2.5 goals could be a worthwhile bet for Wednesday’s encounter.
Leipzig is not a team that is often stonewalled, as they were in the first leg. With Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko leading the line, and Xavi Simons and Dani Olmo offering support, they have the potential to make meaningful contributions to the scoreline. However, they are less intimidating on the road than in front of their fans, and they have managed just five wins in 12 away games in the Bundesliga this season. Further, their winless streak of four consecutive trips was halted only after beating the lowly Bochum 4-1 last Saturday.
Leipzig almost secured a victory on their away trip to the Etihad to play against Manchester City during the group stage, taking a 2-0 lead in the first half. Still, they were unable to hold off the defending champions in the second half and lost 3-2. This match could have a similar outcome, with Real Madrid ending the day as winners in what is likely to be a relatively high-scoring game that propels them to the quarter-finals.
