For the second season in a row, RB Leipzig advances to the Champions League Round of 16. Last year, the German team failed to overcome Manchester City at this stage. This time, they face an equally challenging opponent in the squad coached by Marco Rose. In the group stage, RB Leipzig secured four victories but suffered two defeats against Manchester City. The team comfortably clinched the second spot, leaving behind Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade. Notably, Leipzig did not showcase a solid defense in the group stage, conceding 10 goals without keeping a clean sheet. In the Bundesliga, Leipzig’s performance lacks stability, currently holding the fifth position after 21 rounds, trailing three points behind fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund. In the last match, they couldn’t secure a win against Augsburg (2-2). Once again, their defensive record remains weak, with 28 goals conceded, the worst among the top six teams. It’s worth mentioning the notable performances of Openda and Szoboszlai within the German club. Openda, 23, has scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga, ranking among the top three scorers. However, in the Champions League knockout stage, experience often takes precedence, and many Leipzig players lack that.
Real Madrid smoothly progressed through the group stage, accumulating a perfect 18 points against Napoli, Braga, and Union Berlin. They scored 16 goals and conceded only seven, with four of those coming in the last two matches when the group outcome was already decided. This marks Real Madrid’s 27th consecutive appearance in the Champions League knockout stage. In La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti’s side, despite trailing Girona for a significant period, managed to overtake them in the final match, currently leading the table with a five-point advantage. Notably, Real Madrid continues to achieve success despite constant injuries to key players. In this match, Bellingham will be unavailable. However, Ancelotti consistently finds ways to surprise opponents with unexpected decisions, and any player in the squad can step up in a given game. The current strength of Real Madrid lies in their versatility and experience.
