RB Leipzig – Real Madrid : Preview & Prediction
Despite losing their first two matches in UEFA Champions League (UCL) Group F, RB Leipzig remain in contention to advance to what would be their third round of 16 in the competition. Should the Red Bulls manage to avenge their 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in September, they would seal their passage with a game to spare if Celtic beat Shakhtar Donetsk in Glasgow.
Despite their worst record in the first 11 games of a Bundesliga campaign, Leipzig should go into the clash with Madrid full of confidence after coming from three goals down after 70 minutes to avoid a seemingly certain defeat at Augsburg (3-3). That draw extended Leipzig’s unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games (G5, E2). Since their costly 4-1 home loss to Shakhtar, Leipzig have strung together five home wins – averaging 3.4 goals scored per game – and will be looking for a hard-fought victory on Tuesday to pay tribute to Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away on Saturday.
Real Madrid have already secured their place in the Champions League play-offs for the 26th consecutive season, but the reigning champions will want to do so as group winners by adding a win to a run of six UCL matches unbeaten (G5, E1). Los Blancos remain top of LaLiga Santander after beating Sevilla 3-1 in a match in which Benzema was absent. Both the Golden Ball and Fede Valverde, injured against Sevilla, were left out of Ancelotti’s squad for the visit to Leipzig.
Ancelotti has included several Castilla players in a list of 23 players for the clash at the Red Bull Arena. Despite the absentees, Madrid are favorites and go into the match having lost just one of their last ten away matches in the UCL group stage (G7, E2, P1). In addition, Los Blancos are undefeated in five away matches against German clubs (G3, E2).
Players to watch: Striker Christopher Nkunku could again have an impact down the stretch; five of his last seven goals for Leipzig in all competitions have come after the 75th minute, while Vinicius Junior has scored between the 50th and 60th minute in three of Madrid’s last four UCL away games.
Key stat: there has been at least one goal beyond the 75th minute in Leipzig’s last seven UCL matches (G4, E1, P2).
RB Leipzig – Real Madrid : Betting Tips
RB Leipzig – Win Odds: 2.25
