The Champions League made its comeback on the evening of February 13, with the start of the knockout stages to be played over two legs. RB Leipzig hosted Real Madrid, and FC Copenhagen, welcomed defending champions Manchester City. The 2 European giants, Real and City, held their nerve to win both away from home.
RB Leipzig-Real Madrid
Real Madrid won 1-0 against a Leipzig side that was attractive but too wasteful. There was no time for observation. The 2 teams went at each other blow for blow, with the best chances going to the Germans. They had a great chance in the 9th minute, when Benjanmin Sesko missed a one-on-one with Lunin. Leipzig then took the upper hand in the game. In the 16th minute, Henrichs tried a shot from 20 m, but it was well saved by the Madrid keeper. Kroos followed up in the 19th minute with a long-range shot that was also well saved by Gulasci.
The very enjoyable match was evenly balanced, with both teams excelling in fast transition play. However, the defences were on their toes to stop the last passes or dribbles in a match with a very high technical level.Sesko and Simons on Leipzig's side and Vinicius on Real's were very effective in the first half. The 2 teams parted at a logical 0-0. Leipzig had 47% possession, 4 shots, 3 of which were on target. Real had 55% possession, 5 shots of which 2 were on target. Real made the difference with a Diaz strike early in the second half.In the end, it was Real's slower start to the second half that gave them the lead.It was an individual feat. Brahim Diaz played the role of solo saviour. After breaking away from several players, he curled a shot from the left edge of the box into the top corner (48th min).Sesko tried to respond in the 50th minute with a shot that was blocked by Lunin, but was again blocked. Leipzig rebelled, but failed to make the final touch, notably when Olmo's shot went completely wide in the 62nd minute.Real almost doubled the score with a Rodrygo shot in the 64th minute.
Olmo sent in a well-placed low shot from distance, but Lunin was always on the lookout. Then Real went on the counter. At the other end, Vincius took out his opposite number with a hook, but his outside shot hit the post. What a match! Leipzig, a fine team in terms of content, continues to be inaccurate in the final pass or in the penultimate pass. Simons produced a magnificent sequence, but his shot was volleyed away by the goalkeeper. Sesko was again ideally launched in the 81st minute, but once again lost his duel.In the 83rd minute, the unbeatable Lunin saved from Malian Haidara.Real, operating on the counterattack, had one last chance in the 94th minute when Joselu missed the target. In the end, Real won 1-0.
🚨 𝗟𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗥𝗜𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗖 𝗨𝗡 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗗'𝗨𝗡 𝗕𝗨𝗧 ! 🤍
Victoire 1-0 grâce à un bijou signé Brahim Diaz. ⚽️💫
Les Merengue valideront leur qualification au Bernabeu à condition qu'ils… pic.twitter.com/pkl5486hGS
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) February 13, 2024
FC Copenhagen-Manchester City
Manchester City won 3-1 in Copenhagen. The ultra-dominant Cityzen machine opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Kevin De Bruyne's cross-shot followed a fine team move. Against all the odds, in a match in which they had no presence, FC Copenhagen equalized in the 34th minute through Magnus Mattsson, who took advantage of a gross error by City goalkeeper Ederson. It was their first shot of the match. Man City regained the lead just before half-time through Bernardo Silva (46th min) on a pass from De Bruyne. City led at half-time by a single goal (2-1) despite territorial domination. The English had 73% possession, with 4 shots on target from 7 attempts.In contrast, the Danes had just one shot on target.
The second half was almost a carbon copy, without the goals of the first. City dominated, but never took the lead. Man City finally scored a 3rd goal through Foden at the 92nd minute. Final score 3-1. At the end of the match, the English team had 74% possession and 12 shots on target out of 17. Their opponents had one shot on target out of a total of 2 attempts.
🚨 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗦'𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝟯 𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗦 𝗔̀ 𝟭 𝗦𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗔 𝗣𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗛𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘. 🩵🤍
Un très grand Kevin De Bruyne (une fois de plus), un but de Bernardo Silva et de Phil Foden également permettent aux Citizens de repartir avec un… pic.twitter.com/GxRbleMX9r
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) February 13, 2024
