Benjamin Sesko appeared to have headed RB Leipzig ahead after two minutes, but the goal was disallowed
A brilliant goal by Brahim Diaz handed Real Madrid the advantage following the first leg of their Champions League last-16 meeting with RB Leipzig.
Diaz curled a superb finish into the top corner three minutes after half-time to give Real the win in Germany.
The Spanish midfielder started in place of Jude Bellingham, who missed the game due to injury.
His goal puts Real in a good position to reach the quarter-finals for the 12th time in the past 14 seasons.
Leipzig frustrated Real until the 48th minute, when former Manchester City midfielder Diaz turned on the right touchline and beat two players, before dancing past several others and curling the ball into the top corner.
The Spaniards could not add to their score however, coming closest when Vinicius Jr struck the outside of the post having been set through by the impressive Diaz.
They were also grateful to goalkeeper Andriy Lunin – who kept a clean sheet despite Leipzig having nine shots on target – and for the decision to disallow Benjamin Sesko’s second-minute header.
Real host the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu on 6 March.
Diaz steps up in Bellingham absence
The 14-time European champions are packed full of world-class talent but they clearly miss Bellingham, who suffered a sprained ankle in their 4-0 La Liga victory over Girona on Saturday.
The England midfielder had either scored or assisted in all five of his Champions League appearances for Real so far and has been involved in seven goals, more than any other player in the group stage.
Without him, Real lacked fluency in attack in the first half – although Diaz, who replaced Bellingham in the attacking midfield role, showed quality and industry throughout before brilliantly providing the breakthrough.
Diaz further replicated Bellingham with his celebration, copying his team-mate in standing with arms wide after scoring. It earned the approval of the England international too, who posted “oh my god Brahim!” on X in response.
There was late concern for Real however as Diaz suffered an injury of his own as he was forced off in the final minutes with a serious-looking calf injury.
Diaz’s goal was a moment of magic in an uneven performance from Real – Leipzig created plenty of chances and could easily have taken at least a draw, while Sesko could have had a hat-trick in the opening 10 minutes.
Leipzig industrious but wasteful
After Dani Carvajal played a loose pass out for corner after two minutes, Sesko headed home the second ball but had his effort ruled out as Benjamin Henrichs was judged to be offside and impeding goalkeeper Lunin.
Immediately after, the tall Slovenian striker could not quite make contact with a lofted through ball, before he was denied one-on-one by the legs of Lunin.
Lunin was forced into action late on too, making a series of solid stops from Xavi Simons, Sesko and Amadou Haidara as the hosts pressed for an equaliser.
The Ukrainian started this season as Real’s third-choice keeper, but following Thibaut Courtois’ season-ending injury he has superseded Kepa Arrizabalaga and showed why he has the trust of manager Carlo Ancelotti with this display.
Real’s frustrations were summed up by Carvajal, who was lucky to escape a booking for scything down Simons in the first half before finally being carded in the second having almost constantly complained to the officials.
Leipzig had started as clear underdogs – they were beaten twice by Manchester City in the group stage and are 18 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga – but came into this game with a plan.
They came into the game level with Real for the most scored goals on the break in the group stage as well as producing most shots from counter-attacks, and Leipzig looked to take the most of those circumstances here.
Leipzig’s deep defence mostly did a good job of restricting Real, but they could do nothing to keep out Diaz’s strike and were grateful to the woodwork for keeping the tie alive.
Line-ups
RB Leipzig
Formation 4-2-2-2
1Gulácsi
2Simakan16Klostermann4Orbán22Raum
39Henrichs24Schlager
7Olmo20Simons
17Openda30Sesko
1Gulácsi2SimakanBooked at 53mins16Klostermann4Orbán22Raum39HenrichsSubstituted forHaidaraat 75’minutes24SchlagerSubstituted forKamplat 90’minutes7OlmoSubstituted forElmasat 76’minutes20Simons17OpendaSubstituted forPoulsenat 75’minutesBooked at 77mins30SeskoBooked at 85minsSubstitutes3Lenz5Bitshiabu6Elmas8Haidara9Poulsen13Seiwald14Baumgartner21Blaswich23Lukeba25Zingerle38Jatta44Kampl
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-1-2
13Lunin
2Carvajal18Tchouaméni6Nacho23Mendy
15Valverde8Kroos21Díaz
12Camavinga
11Rodrygo7Vinícius Júnior
13Lunin2CarvajalBooked at 66mins18Tchouaméni6Nacho23Mendy15Valverde8Kroos21DíazSubstituted forVázquezat 84’minutes12Camavinga11RodrygoSubstituted forJoseluat 84’minutes7Vinícius JúniorBooked at 85minsSubstitutes10Modric14Joselu17Vázquez19Ceballos20García24Güler25Arrizabalaga Revuelta28Martín30González32Paz34Carrillo41Ramón
Referee:Irfan Peljto
Attendance:45,028
Live Text
Match ends, RB Leipzig 0, Real Madrid 1.
Second Half ends, RB Leipzig 0, Real Madrid 1.
Attempt missed. Joselu (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga with a cross.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Amadou Haidara.
Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga.
Substitution, RB Leipzig. Kevin Kampl replaces Xaver Schlager.
Attempt missed. Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Foul by Federico Valverde (Real Madrid).
Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Eljif Elmas (RB Leipzig).
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig).
Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Andriy Lunin.
Attempt saved. Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Joselu replaces Rodrygo.
Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Brahim Díaz because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Player of the match
KamplKevin Kampl
with an average of 7.71
RB Leipzig
Squad number44Player nameKampl
Squad number6Player nameElmas
Squad number17Player nameOpenda
Squad number9Player namePoulsen
Squad number8Player nameHaidara
Squad number7Player nameOlmo
Squad number20Player nameSimons
Squad number4Player nameOrbán
Squad number30Player nameSesko
Squad number24Player nameSchlager
Squad number2Player nameSimakan
Squad number39Player nameHenrichs
Squad number16Player nameKlostermann
Squad number1Player nameGulácsi
Squad number22Player nameRaum
Real Madrid
Squad number12Player nameCamavinga
Squad number18Player nameTchouaméni
Squad number7Player nameVinícius Júnior
Squad number15Player nameValverde
Squad number21Player nameDíaz
Squad number11Player nameRodrygo
Squad number8Player nameKroos
Squad number13Player nameLunin
Squad number2Player nameCarvajal
Squad number6Player nameNacho
Squad number23Player nameMendy
Squad number14Player nameJoselu
Squad number17Player nameLucas Vázquez
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