The Madrilenians, who returned to the quarters for the fourth consecutive year, suffered again against a German team which will long regret having dominated the great Real twice, without managing to bring them down.

"We weren't far away. We had chances to score, we lacked a little more efficiency, but that's football. We can go away with our heads held high," said L Leipzig's Spanish winger Dani Olmo on Movistar+.

A first hitch – without consequences – this season on the European scene after seven victories in seven matches for the Merengue club, for whom elimination at this stage of the competition would have been a resounding failure.

“The objective has been achieved,” summed up Madrid captain Nacho in the mixed zone.

“Today was a bad game from us, maybe the worst of the season,” he added.

To celebrate its 122 years of existence, Real wanted to finish the job and recall, as written on a tifo displayed before the match, that it is "the King of Europe", with its fourteen continental crowns.

Vinicius Jr (d) has just opened the scoring against Leipzig, March 6, 2024 in Madrid © JAVIER SORIANO / AFP

But the tactical move attempted by Carlo Ancelotti, who decided to lock in by depriving himself of the Brazilian Rodrygo's kick-off in attack to bring the surplus in the middle thanks to the versatile Federico Valverde, did not bear fruit.

Regrets for Leipzig

English prodigy Jude Bellingham was the first victim of this choice, he who has been so comfortable in the 4-4-2 pattern since the start of the season with 20 goals in 30 matches.

Alone in the middle with almost every time two players on him and often with his back to the goal, Bellingham tried to get away from it all but was unable to exert his influence as usual and ended the first half showing a certain annoyance.

Leipzig defender Willi Orban equalizes against Real, March 6, 2024 in Madrid © Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP

The Madrilenians, imprecise and harmless with the exception of a header just above Vinicius (12th), have, as in the first leg in Germany, conceded several clear chances in the first period which could have cost them dearly.

Fortunately for them, they were not converted by the former Lensois Lois Openda, who lacked realism on three occasions (13th, 15th, 42nd), nor by the Dutch hope Xavi Simons (41st), and both teams returned to the locker rooms under the whistles.

Symbol of the frustration of the Madrid players, Vinicius then came close to the red card after violently shoving Orban (54th), far from the action in progress.

But as in Valencia last weekend, "Vini", well muzzled until now by the ex-AS Monaco defender Benjamin Henrichs, ended up finding the fault on a counter perfectly led by Bellingham to free the Bernabéu (65th, 1-0).

A short-lived joy for the Merengue supporters, who started shaking again barely a minute later after a shot from Xavi Simons was narrowly diverted by Rudiger (66th).

The thousands of Germans who had made the trip exulted in their turn, captain Orban bringing his team to within one goal of extra time with an uncrossed header in front of Nacho (68th, 1-1).

Real midfielder Jude Bellingham against Leipzig, March 6, 2024 in Madrid © Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP

The Leipzig players continued to believe in their luck until the end and almost succeeded in snatching thirty extra minutes, but the lob from the Spanish winger Dani Olmo at the end of added time crashed onto the bar. Lunin (91st).

With AFP

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