Valverde and Asensio unblock Real Madrid
The whites beat Leipzig (2-0) with two blows in the final stretch of a gray duel in terms of game
MADRID, 14 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid beat the German RB Leipzig on Wednesday (2-0) and saved its home debut in this Champions League, after two late goals from Fede Valverde and Marco Asensio that saved a gray night at the Santiago Bernabéu and served continue to lead their European group and remain undefeated this season against a brave opponent who was better in the first half.
The 14-time European champion was thick in the preparation from the beginning, with little freshness and without connecting in the attack zones. The Germans were able to get ahead in a first half where they proposed more than a poorer Real Madrid. However, with this victory the whites end a negative streak of three consecutive years without winning in their home debut in the Champions League.
The team led by Carlo Ancelotti started the match somewhat out of place against a very well planted Leipzig, with very high pressure that had the mission of suffocating Rüdiger and Nacho’s ball output. And he quickly got his prize, when in minute 5, Forsberg picked up a ball in the spinal cord after an error in White’s preparation, to serve, almost on a plate, the ball to Nkunku, who shot something centered and with little angle, causing the Courtois’s first stop.
The script of the match was as expected before the initial whistle. A real Madrid protagonist with the ball, but without depth due to the pressure and defensive commitment of the Germans, willing to scratch something positive from the white fiefdom. And they had the second clearest, with Nkunku again as the protagonist, receiving almost in the small area and requesting a penalty that was not awarded.
Only the sparks of Vinicius on the left, with more than one dribble of those who like at the Santiago Bernabéu, seemed to encourage a somewhat gray Real Madrid in the first 15 minutes. And it was not until the first quarter of an hour when he enjoyed a dangerous approach, with Rodrygo, the one chosen to replace an injured Karim Benzema, who penetrated the right side of the German area, but the defender quickly jumped on him to hinder him necessary.
But Leipzig was not daunted and continued to show that they did not come ‘for a walk’ to the Bernabéu. With another whiplash in the form of transition in the 21st minute, Forsberg and Werner combined and the Swede fired over the goal. The German team made the mobility of their four most dangerous men their great threat, with a Tchouameni somewhat overwhelmed in defensive tasks.
The difficulty in connecting in attack and the lack of clear chances for the Whites allowed Marco Rose’s team to feel increasingly comfortable with their approach. Again Nkunku had an opportunity after a beautiful spoon from Werner -the most active up to that moment-, although the Belgian goalkeeper narrowed it down in time, even risking physical damage. Although the clearest for the visitors would not come until 34′, when the Frenchman failed to hit a lethal pass from the German striker.
Doubts took over a somewhat subdued Bernabéu, which only woke up with a great chance in the form of a slightly deflected shot from the edge of Luka Modric. Just three minutes later, the Croatian fell in the area brought down by Orbán after controlling Valverde’s lofted pass from the right, insufficient contact for Maurizio Mariani.
After a first half without shots between the three posts for Real Madrid, the second half began with Leipzig threatening and with the locals without waking up. Ancelotti made a move after 60 minutes, unhappy with what he saw on the pitch. The shock was Marco Asensio, whose entry for Camavinga caused a division in the stands after his anger at not playing a minute against Mallorca last Sunday, and that delayed Valverde to the midfield.
Without very clear ideas when preparing, the current champion found a potential asset in the counterattacks and thus came a great approach after a gallop by Valverde down the right that served Vinicius, who did not know how to finish off with everything against Gulácsi, who He made a high level save. Also on the counter, Rodrygo showed off his speed in a clear two-for-two with Vinicius, but the Brazilian connection didn’t work this time.
And those dizzying transitions paid off. In a spurt by Vinicius down the left, he dribbled past Henrichs three times, to assist Valverde, who was waiting alone on the right flank, after a final cut inside the corner of the large area. Already inside the area, the Uruguayan got rid of the defender with a touch to cross the ball to the right of Gulácsi and unclog the match for Real Madrid in the 80th minute.
The German team had some more approach, although already touched by the goal against. However, the finishing touch came with Ancelotti’s scoreboard, when Kroos bounced a low free kick from the side towards the front, where Asensio finished off with the first touch to slip the ball past the left post of the goal and ensure the unbeaten record before the derby.
–RESULT: REAL MADRID, 2 – RB LEIPZIG, 0 (0-0, at halftime).
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Rüdiger, Nacho, Praise (Mendy, min.81); Modric (Kroos, 81 mins), Tchouameni, Camavinga (Asensio, 64 mins); Valverde, Rodrygo (Mariano, min.85) and Vinicius (Ceballos, min.85).
LEIPZIG: Gulácsi; Simakan (Henrichs, min.75), Diallo, Orbán, Raum; Haidara (Kampl, min. 75), Schlager; Nkunku, Forsberg (Poulsen, min.81), Szoboszlai and Werner (André Silva, min.81).
1-0, minute 80. Valverde.
2-0, minute 91. Asensio.
–REFEREE: Maurizio Mariani (ITA). He admonished Carvajal (min.84) for Real Madrid, and Haidara (min.73) and Nkunku (min.84) at Leipzig.
–Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
