Key events
“I can’t believe how phlegmatic everyone is about Xavi Simons” writes Jamie O’Sullivan. “I don’t want to go all out on you, but this boy is making it to the top and there will be no comparison between what Xavi Simons does in football and what Scotty Canham does in football.”
Thank you, Jamie, for giving me an excuse to post my favorite video on the internet.
So here are the changes compared to the first leg: Antonio Rüdiger is back for Madrid after Aurélien Tchouaméni came on as a substitute in central defense. Rodrygo is out, as is Brahim Díaz, and Jude Bellingham returns.
Amadou Haidara and Castello Jr. come for Leipzig, replacing Mohamed Simakan and Lukas Klostermann.
Hello to Peter Oh, who writes:
“Even though I’m not a fan of the Red Bull Footy Club business model, there are some RB Leipzig players that I like and who can hopefully cause a surprise today and prevent Real Madrid’s Champions League machine progresses. It’s fun to watch Dutchman Xavi Simons with his skill and creativity. Austrian Xaver Schlager is a lively defensive midfielder who can make a crisp tackle and follow it up with a deft pass.
“I think what I’m trying to say is that Real Madrid may have a pedigree and superstars like Vini and Bellingham, but Leipzig have the X factor.”
Xavi is an interesting guy. He learned his craft at the Barcelona academy and is now playing for PSG for the second time, but was immediately loaned out after returning to the French club from PSV last summer. He is only 20 years old and has already done a lot of sightseeing in Europe.
The teams
Here you are …
And here’s another plug for the brilliant Jonathan Liew. He watched Harry Kane’s Bayern take on Lazio last night. Could Kane’s first trophy be the biggest?
ICYMI: This is what happened at the RB Arena last month.
preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the coverage of RB Leipzig’s trip to the Bernabéu. Real Madrid won the first leg with a stunning solo goal from Brahim Díaz giving them a 1-0 lead heading into tonight. The 14-time European Cup/Champions League winner was without the injured Jude Bellingham, but he will play this game despite the weekend being a bit turbulent.
Madrid are obviously one of the favorites to take the Jubilee Line to Wembley Park in June – they have the stuff, the glamor and the history. But Leipzig, fifth in the Bundesliga, looked good in the opening round and Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin held the fort with nine saves. Leipzig coach Marco Rose has admitted his team will need some luck. But he also raised his boys. Here’s to a round of 16 thriller Kick-off at 20:00 GMT. (Oh, and here it is Daniel Sturridge prepares the scene much better than me.)
