Real Madrid wants to finish off its European duties with ‘outstanding’
The whites, already qualified for the round of 16, need only one point against a needy Leipzig to secure first place
MADRID, 24 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid visits RB Leipzig this Tuesday (9:00 p.m.) on matchday five of the Champions League group stage, with the aim of closing the first place in Group F, for which it needs to score a point in a duel to which he arrives weighed down by sensitive casualties to face a rival who needs victory to stay ahead in the fight for second place.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team traveled to Germany with notable absences due to injury to Karim Benzema, with muscle fatigue in his left leg, and Fede Valverde – who had scored in three matches -, who received a heavy blow in the final minutes of the last LaLiga match Santander against Seville. They were joined by the last-minute loss of Luka Modric, who will not be at the RB Arena for unknown reasons.
Thus, the merengues will have to recover from the obstacles in the form of casualties to complete all the work of the previous days, which they completed with three victories and a draw, with a good grade. Some results that place him first in Group F with 10 points, four above Leipzig, so a point would mathematically give him first place without having to wait to do so on the last day against Celtic.
The reigning European champions remain undefeated this season, with the 3-1 win against Sevilla their last play. Ancelotti’s men once again showed several faces in the duel against Seville, going ahead and then taking the roller to score two great goals with two final blows and take three important points.
Real Madrid have only lost one of their last ten away games in the Champions League group stage and have linked five away games against German teams without defeat. So far, he is up to the task at a crucial moment of the season, with no hint of a physical downturn, boosted by a high level of competitiveness and with blind confidence in his multifaceted and chameleon-like model.
However, this Tuesday, against Leipzig, he will have to show that his ambition has not yet run out and that his ceiling is even higher. The Champions League is once again the perfect terrain to continue confirming and squeezing their good moment, in an opportunity to see the quality of their wardrobe.
Without three starters, in addition to Ceballos and Mariano, the Italian coach could incorporate some variant and less common pieces. However, it is theoretically the toughest commitment before the break for the World Cup due to the rival’s level.
The most probable thing is that Rodrygo Goes will act again as ‘9’, accompanied by a Vinicius, confirmed by Ancelotti and who shone again against Sevilla, while the place left by Fede Valverde could reward the good minutes that Marco is signing lately Asensio, who seems to have advanced an Eden Hazard condemned to ostracism again.
With the absences of Modric, Valverde and Ceballos, Tchouameni, Kroos and Camavinga would be chosen for the engine room, while behind is where more new faces could be seen with the entries of Lucas Vázquez, Nacho Fernández and Ferland Mendy.
In a week marked for the Germans by the death this Saturday of the founder of Red Bull -the team’s main sponsor-, Dietrich Mateschitz, Leipzig faces an important duel for their aspirations in the competition. If they manage to beat the whites and Shakthar lose against Celtic, they will advance to the round of 16 matches, if not, they will have to play against the Ukrainian team.
In the game they played at the Santiago Bernabéu, more than a month ago, the Germans proposed a model based on transitions to enjoy more than one clear opportunity that they did not know how to achieve. A courage that could be key to drowning the 14-time European champion in the Red Bull Arena.
The coach of the German club has good news. He will be able to count on his forwards, and essential pieces in his scheme, Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner, although the latter is not here to complete the game. In addition, the Spanish Dani Olmo, who already returned in the draw (3-3) against Augsburg, could continue to increase his load of minutes and provide more danger in the offensive zone.
Leipzig will have, against Real Madrid, the opportunity to prolong their great dynamic at home, with five consecutive wins -their last defeat was on September 6 against Shakthar-. While in the global calculation, the Germans have six wins and two draws in their last ten official commitments.
LEIPZIG: Blaswich; Simakan, Diallo, Orbán, Raum; Schlager, Kampl; Szoboszlai, Forsberg; Nkunku; André Silva.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Nacho, Rüdiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Cross; Asensio, Rodrygo and VinIcius Jr.
–ÁRBITRO: Daniele Orsato (ITA).
–Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
–TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar Champions League.
