RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League |Round of 16
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THE FACTS
When is RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid on and what time does it start? RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid will take place on Tuesday 13th February, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid on in the UK? RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid in the UK? RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
RB LEIPZIG
RB Leipzig’s recent home record in Europe is very good, winning six, drawing three and losing just two of their last 11 on their own patch. They’ll need to make use of home advantage in what is an exceedingly tough round of 16 draw against formidable opposition in Real Madrid. They made it through to the knockout stage as runners-up to reigning European champions Man City in Group G
Although they were beaten by Pep Guardiola’s side both home and away, RB Leipzig’s other two fixtures in front of their own fans saw them defeat both Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys. It’s also worth noting that of the eight second-placed finishers in the group stage, only FC Porto managed more goals than RB Leipzig’s 13 over the course of their six matches played.
REAL MADRID
Record 14-time European champions Real Madrid laid down a marker to the rest of the competition in the 2023-24 Champions League after racking up a perfect group stage record. Six games played, six wins accrued with a whopping 16 goals scored and whilst their defence wasn’t perfect having shipped seven goals, their potency at the other end of the pitch more than made up for it.
‘Los Blancos’ currently sit top of the table in La Liga by a margin of five points and head to Germany having won four of their last five matches, scoring at least twice in all bar one of those fixtures. They were also winners of the Supercopa de Espana last month, beating bitter rivals Barcelona by four goals to one, Vinicius Junior netting a hat-trick.
THE TEAM NEWS
RB LEIPZIG
Expect RB Leipzig not to deviate from the 4-2-2-2 formation that has proven a staple for them under Marco Rose, despite the quality of their opponents perhaps forcing them to consider a more defensive option. Midfielder Amadou Haidara is the only likely absentee, with Xavi Schlager and Kevin Kampl expected to partner-up in central midfielder. Dani Olmo and Xavi Simons should play just in front of those two, the latter having shone across the tournament so far.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-2-2): Gulacsi; Simakan, Klostermann, Orban, Raum; Schlager, Kampl; Simons, Olmo; Openda, Sesko
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Haidara (Injured)
REAL MADRID
Real Madrid were rocked at the weekend by an ankle sprain which forced star midfielder Jude Bellingham off the pitch after having scored twice against Girona. The injury has ruled him out of this game, with Carlo Ancelotti hoping that the England international who scored four times across the group stage will make his return in the second-leg. Bellingham joins Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Eder Militao on the sidelines, whilst defenders Nacho and Antonio Rudiger are both doubtful.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Vazquez, Carvajal, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Tchouameni; Diaz; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior
UNAVAILABLE: Courtois (Injured), Alaba (Injured), Militao (Injured), Bellingham (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Nacho (Injured), Rudiger (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- RB Leipzig and Real Madrid have met twice previously in European competition, both fixtures were in last season's group stage. Real won 2-0 at home on Matchday 2 and RB Leipzig recorded a 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture in Germany on Matchday 5.
- Overall, RB Leipzig have won three and drawn one of their previous five European matches against Spanish clubs (W3 D1 L1).
- RB Leipzig have lost only three of their last 12 UEFA Champions League matches (W8 D1).
- RB Leipzig are without a win in their last five UEFA Champions League knockout phase matches (D1 L4). Since a 2-1 victory against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals in Lisbon in August 2020.
- RB Leipzig have only failed to score in two of their last 26 European matches.
- RB Leipzig have not failed to score in their last 19 European matches at home. Since a 2-0 defeat against Lyon in October 2019 (UCL GS).
- Real Madrid have lost only two of their last 21 UEFA club competition matches (W17 D2).
- Real Madrid have won the first leg in eight of their last ten UEFA Champions League round of 16 ties (L2).
- Real Madrid have lost only one of their last 16 UEFA club competition matches against German teams (W11 D4).
- Real Madrid have only failed to score in one of their last 25 UEFA club competition matches.
- Real Madrid have scored two or more goals in 15 of their last 16 UEFA club competition matches against German teams.
THE PREDICTION
The expectation is that this will prove an entertaining encounter, with RB Leipzig unlikely to alter their naturally attacking style of play, regardless of Real Madrid’s quality going forward. Even without Bellingham, ‘Los Blancos’ pose such an overwhelming offensive threat with the pace of both Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior expected to prove a nightmare for the RB Leipzig backline to deal with, especially when considering that they failed to record a clean sheet across the group stage. However, Real Madrid only gained two clean sheets themselves, conceding at least once in all three away fixtures. With that in mind, although the overwhelming class of the Spanish giants should see them come out on top over the course of 90 minutes, both teams to score also has to be favoured.
TIP: REAL MADRID TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
