MADRID Quality prevailed when mentality failed. That was what happened as an "average" Real Madrid reached the League Champions quarter-finals following their 1-1 second-leg draw against RB Leipzig on March 6.
The record 14-time champions were far below their best, but did just enough over the two legs of the last-16 clash to edge out their Bundesliga opponents 2-1 on aggregate.
Leipzig were arguably the better side and missed several gilt-edged chances, registering 20 shots to Real's 11, but went a goal down in the 65th minute, when Vinicius Junior fired into the top corner after being set up by Jude Bellingham.
Centre-back Willi Orban levelled for the visitors just three minutes later with a diving header from David Raum's cross, setting up a tense finish that included a Dani Olmo strike that hit the crossbar. However, Leipzig could not find a second goal to force extra time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team suffered and did not approach the game well mentally.
"We played badly, with little intensity, with worries... the psychological aspect conditioned our game a lot," Ancelotti told Movistar.
この記事は The Straits Times の March 08, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は The Straits Times の March 08, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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