Defending champions Actual Madrid traveled to the Pink Bull Enviornment Leipzig for his or her UEFA Champions League matchday 5 conflict towards Group F rivals RB Leipzig on Tuesday night time (October 25).
Los Blancos solely wanted some extent to progress into the final 16 as Group F winners. The hosts, nonetheless, had different concepts, with them inflicting a 3-2 defeat upon the Whites in entrance of their followers. Josko Gvardiol, Christopher Nkunku, and Timo Werner every scored a objective for RB Leipzig, whereas Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo discovered the again of the online for Actual Madrid.
As has develop into the norm below Marco Rose, Leipzig began the sport stuffed with depth and need. It took them solely two minutes to string their first transfer collectively, with Emil Forsberg laying the ball off in a harmful space down the left flank. Los Merengues someway obtained to the top of the supply and cleared the hazard.
Within the thirteenth minute, Leipzig gained a nook and made full use of their physicality to punish the guests. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made an instinctive preliminary save, however had no reply for Gvardiol’s very good observe up. Three minutes after scoring the opener, Leipzig got here near doubling their benefit. Nkunku seared down the left channel and tried an formidable shot, which, to his credit score, solely narrowly missed Courtois’ objective and crashed towards the sidenetting.
RB Leipzig hand Actual Madrid their first lack of the season 👀 https://t.co/ltuZrmUCBl
Within the 18th minute, Nkunku obtained the objective he was in search of, with him dispatching a thunderous shot from contained in the field to go away Courtois lifeless within the water. It took 36 minutes for Actual Madrid to create their first actual opening of the match. Vinicius Junior performed Rodrygo by on objective with a move down the left flank. Leipzig stopper Janick Blaswich shortly got here off his line to slender the angle and block Rodrygo’s shot.
Simply earlier than the break, Madrid pulled one again, with Vinicius Junior making use of a headed end to Marco Asensio’s cross into the world. Regardless of getting a morale boosting objective proper earlier than half-time, Los Merengues couldn’t construct on it within the second 45. Leipzig continued to threaten the guests with their tempo, and will have been in entrance had Werner stored his effort on track n the seventieth minute.
Within the eightieth minute, goalscorer Vinicius Junior had the chance to equalize for his staff, however his effort, from shut vary, drifted broad of the mark. A minute after Vinicius’ miss, Werner doubled Leipzig’s lead, making use of the final touch on the far put up.
In harm time, Rodrygo transformed a penalty for Actual Madrid, nevertheless it finally served as a comfort strike.
The defeat marked Actual Madrid’s first within the 2022-23 marketing campaign, ending their 16-game unbeaten run. Listed below are three Madrid gamers who disenchanted and two who shone of their defeat to Leipzig:
Underperformed: Eder Militao
Eder Militao, who has been one among Madrid’s most dependable gamers within the final couple of seasons, was markedly beneath his greatest on matchday 5. He utterly misplaced Werner for Leipzig’s third objective, was weak in duels, and his lengthy ball distribution additionally left lots to be desired.
The Brazilian misplaced 5 of seven duels, misplaced possession 12 occasions, and misplaced a cross and two lengthy balls on Tuesday. He additionally dedicated a foul and was dribbled previous as soon as.
Carried out: Rodrygo
Regardless of his miss within the first half, Rodrygo was arguably the brightest member of Los Blancos’ typically unimagintive assault. He carried the ball effectively, labored exhausting, and gained and transformed a spot kick in stoppage time. He despatched Blaswich the fallacious option to discover the again of Leipzig’s web, taking Madrid to an appropriate 3-2 scoreline.
No U21 participant has scored extra targets in 2022 than Rodrygo. https://t.co/ifFkrmMNRj
On Tuesday, Rodrygo made a key move, accomplished two dribbles, gained 4 floor duels, and delivered two correct lengthy balls. He additionally drew two fouls and accomplished 98% of his floor passes (49 correct passes).
Underperformed: Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rudiger was deployed as a left-back towards RB Leipzig; and it is protected to say that the experiment was not profitable. He struggled to take care of the tempo of Leipzig’s assault and didn’t look assured sufficient to push additional up the pitch. With him failing to interrupt his shackles, it was more durable for Vinicius Junior to maintain the left flank cell.
Antonio Rudiger says Vinicius is sort of a little brother to him 🥺❤️ https://t.co/LcyLPyp00u
On Tuesday, Rudiger misplaced two lengthy balls, misplaced possession 5 occasions, and made just one interception. He neither recorded a key move nor tried a dribble.
Carried out: Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni was arguably the brightest Actual Madrid participant on the Leipzig pitch on Tuesday. He circulated the ball effectively, held his floor in duels, and appeared snug whereas taking the ball ahead.
Barcelona had been satisfied that Tchouameni would have been in a position to exchange Busquets, however Madrid ended up signing him for an infinite switch charge.— @sport https://t.co/TDVDoKuamy
The French midfielder performed 68 correct passes (94.4% accuracy), tried a team-high 5 tackles, and gained 9 of 14 duels. He additionally accomplished a dribble, carried out a clearance, and drew a foul.
Underperformed: Lucas Vazquez
Lucas Vazquez appeared a shadow of his greatest self on Tuesday. He did not put harmful crosses into the world and was inadept at protecting Leipzig’s assaults at bay as effectively. Because of this, a lot of Leipzig’s assaults got here from their left flank.
In Germany, Vazquez misplaced two of 4 floor duels, misplaced all three of his tried crosses, and was dribbled previous as soon as. He additionally dedicated a foolish problem on Gvardiol early within the second half, which deservedly earned him a yellow card.