Real Madrid and RB Leipzig played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday. The result leaves the tie open for the second leg in Germany next week.
The match summary
The hosts took the lead in the 28th minute when Karim Benzema headed in a cross from Dani Carvajal. The French striker scored his 10th goal in the competition this season, becoming the joint-top scorer with Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich.
RB Leipzig equalized in the 57th minute when Christopher Nkunku volleyed in a pass from Emil Forsberg. The visitors had a chance to win the game in the stoppage time, but Peter Gulacsi saved a penalty from Sergio Ramos.
The player ratings
Here are the player ratings for both teams, based on a scale of 1 to 10:
Real Madrid
- Thibaut Courtois (7): Made some good saves, especially from Timo Werner and Marcel Sabitzer. Could not do much about the goal.
- Dani Carvajal (8): Provided a great assist for Benzema and defended well. One of the best performers for Real Madrid.
- Sergio Ramos (6): Had a mixed game. Was solid at the back, but missed a crucial penalty that could have given his team the advantage.
- Raphael Varane (7): Partnered well with Ramos and made some important interceptions and clearances.
- Ferland Mendy (6): Had a decent game, but was not very effective going forward. Kept Dani Olmo quiet for most of the game.
- Casemiro (7): Was the anchor in the midfield, breaking up Leipzig’s attacks and starting Real Madrid’s moves. Also had a header cleared off the line.
- Toni Kroos (7): Controlled the tempo of the game with his passing and vision. Created some chances for his teammates, but also missed a good opportunity himself.
- Luka Modric (6): Worked hard in the midfield, but was not very influential. Substituted in the 70th minute.
- Marco Asensio (5): Had a quiet game, did not offer much threat or creativity. Replaced by Rodrygo in the 61st minute.
- Karim Benzema (8): Scored a superb header and was a constant menace for the Leipzig defense. Could have had another goal, but was denied by Gulacsi.
- Vinicius Junior (6): Showed some flashes of brilliance, but was also wasteful and erratic. Had a couple of shots saved by Gulacsi.
RB Leipzig
- Peter Gulacsi (8): Made some excellent saves, especially from Benzema and Ramos. Kept his team in the game with his heroics.
- Lukas Klostermann (6): Had a tough time dealing with Vinicius, but also made some good tackles and blocks.
- Dayot Upamecano (7): Was strong and composed in the center of the defense. Made some crucial interventions and clearances.
- Ibrahima Konate (6): Partnered well with Upamecano and was solid in the air. However, he was beaten by Benzema for the goal.
- Angelino (7): Was lively and adventurous on the left flank. Provided some good crosses and also had a shot on target.
- Konrad Laimer (6): Was energetic and industrious in the midfield, but also gave away some fouls and lost possession. Substituted in the 74th minute.
- Kevin Kampl (7): Was the orchestrator in the midfield, dictating the play with his passing and movement. Also helped out defensively.
- Marcel Sabitzer (7): Was the captain and leader of the team, driving them forward with his runs and passes. Also had a couple of shots that tested Courtois.
- Dani Olmo (5): Had a quiet game, did not offer much threat or creativity. Replaced by Yussuf Poulsen in the 61st minute.
- Christopher Nkunku (8): Scored a brilliant goal and was a constant threat with his pace and skill. Also linked up well with his teammates.
- Timo Werner (6): Had a frustrating game, missed some good chances and was of June 2024ten caught offside. However, he also worked hard and created some problems for the Real Madrid defense.