Champions League: Real Madrid survive Leipzig scare as Manchester City ease into quarter-finals | 18N5311 | 2024-03-08 16:08:01
Real Madrid snuck into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday night time despite a lacklustre performance towards RB Leipzig, whereas Manchester City loved complete control towards Copenhagen.
Pep Guardiola's reigning champions netted twice inside the first 10 minutes to allay any fears over their progression to the last eight, profitable 6-2 on combination, though 14-time champions Real have been made to sweat on the Bernabeu regardless of going into the second leg with a one-goal benefit.
Leipzig gave the hosts several early scares from quick transitions but wasted the alternatives; Benjamin Sesko went alone despite having two better positioned team-mates alongside him – although he was later flagged offside – after which Lois Openda ignored an overlap for a speculative effort.
Actual did not have an orthodox striker on the pitch, with Jude Bellingham the furthest player ahead, and have been enjoying somewhat sluggish and passive – a lot so that they did not muster an effort on course within the first half.
Additionally they seemed open at the different finish of the pitch and one other speedy turnover and break set Openda free again, though he dragged his effort large of the far submit.
The whistles that rung around the Bernabeu as half-time approached underlined how nervy and stressed the house crowd had grow to be and Leipzig twice went close to discovering an opener before the break. Xavi Simons pressured Andriy Lunin right into a effective save and, from a follow-up nook, Openda rippled the aspect netting with a ferocious effort.
Carlo Ancelotti responded by bringing on Rodrygo for the second half nevertheless it did little to vary the tempo and stream of the game and Actual have been lucky to not concede when Lunin bizarrely raced out of his objective and was rounded by Openda, but he couldn't get off a shot into an unguarded internet.
Actual finally examined Peter Gulacsi shortly after the hour-mark, with Rodrygo's deflected effort virtually sneaking in at the near submit, they usually opened the scoring not lengthy after.
Toni Kroos gained possession on the sting of his own box and launched Bellingham, who strode forward purposefully. He ignored an early cross to Vinicius, waiting and ready for the right moment, earlier than enjoying a cute little through-ball for the Brazilian who slammed house together with his first touch.
Leipzig did not wilt after conceding, although, and Simons noticed a goal-bound effort blocked within moments of the restart. The Bundesliga outfit continued to apply strain and acquired a deserved aim when David Raum whipped in a teasing cross for Willi Orban, who glanced a header in at the far publish to put the tie again within the stability.
Abruptly this was turning into a very nervy night time, with Openda spurning one other good probability while Sesko was also gifted a chance. Real have been struggling to get out of their own half and Luka Modric was brought on to convey some semblance of control, however still Leipzig racked up possibilities.
Slowly Modric's calmness and methodical passing started to take a few of the sting out of the contest and an excellent run from Rodrygo ought to have killed the tie had the Brazilian's end matched his mazy dribble.
However Leipzig nonetheless had possibilities even in stoppage time and Dani Olmo was inches away from sending the match to extra-time when he cushioned a fragile lob onto the crossbar.
The German aspect laid siege to Actual's penalty field in the ultimate embers however, by the pores and skin of their tooth, Real survived with a 1-1 draw on the night time and 2-1 win on combination. They will need to improve immeasurably if they are to pose a menace to different sides left in the competitors.
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Over on the Etihad, in the meantime, there was little doubt that defending champions Manchester Metropolis would advance to the quarter-finals having taken a Three-1 lead back with them from Copenhagen.
Guardiola had insisted he was taking the match very significantly, however after making seven modifications to the staff that gained the Manchester derby, it was clear he had one eye on the large journey to Liverpool this weekend.
However, it didn't take long for City to put the tie firmly out of Copenhagen's attain, with Manuel Akanji volleying residence from a nook inside 5 minutes.
Simply moments later, issues received worse for the visitors, with keeper Kamil Grabara enduring a nightmare second he will need to overlook in a hurry.
From one other nook, Rodri cracked the crossbar before the ball found its means again to Julian Alvarez whose hopeful hit was spilled by Grabara into the back of the web, bringing back reminiscences of Liverpool's Loris Karius within the 2018 remaining.
From there, it appeared to be a question of not if however when City would rating again, however Copenhagen had other concepts, and after a scintillating run and 1-2 with Orri Oskarsson, former Southampton star Mohamed Elyounoussi fired previous Ederson simply before the half-hour mark.
</div> Regardless that the score was 5-2 of their favour, the Citizens took few risks from that point, although that didn't stop Erling Haaland from grabbing his customary aim on the stroke of half-time.
Rodri lofted an extended ball forward for the Norwegian striker who did what he does greatest, outmuscling defenders earlier than guiding the ball house – thanks partially to a small deflection.
Substitute Magnus Mattsson got here close to grabbing one other comfort, only to be denied by Ederson, but possibilities have been few and much between within the second-half as Metropolis cruised into the final eight with relative fuss or drama.
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