Brahim Díaz’s sumptuous solo strike gives Real Madrid edge over RB Leipzig
Did you anticipate two flawless displays from Real Madrid consecutively? Let's face it: that's not the way Madrid rolls. They use their resources wisely, cherish both the attractive and unattractive plays, and focus on the next task. Hence, after thrashing Girona, they faced RB Leipzig in a gritty and determined manner, where they had to defend for extended stretches, despite lacking many defensive players.
Carlo Ancelotti described it as a "team effort", but with one remarkable moment. Brahim Díaz began the match as a substitute for the injured Jude Bellingham, but left injured himself. However, during the game, he scored the only goal of the match after three minutes in the second half, which was a fantastic performance. This has greatly benefited Madrid, as they now have a significant advantage ahead of the second leg at the Bernabéu.
It's definitely an advantage when you've got mates who can handle a knockout match like champs- those who come through in times of need. A couple of those types of players on the team include Andriy Lunin-Hailing, who took over for Thibaut Courtois as goalkeeper and secured Madrid's lead with some incredible saves at the end of the game, earning praise for delivering his top performance ever from Ancelotti. There's also the amazing Toni Kroos- a midfielder who was simply outstanding once more, managing to be everywhere on the field without appearing to exert much effort.
However, overall, the game was quite evenly matched. The home team may have felt a bit disappointed about the missed chances they had during the first half. They missed opportunities to push Madrid out of their comfort zone and revive their own struggling season. Madrid would have had little to argue about if Benjamin Sesko had scored one of the six chances he had during the game, despite their varying level of difficulty. Interestingly, these missed chances can be connected to the goal he scored in the opening minutes of the game. This goal may have been the crucial moment of the match.
During the game, when Madrid was getting ready after a corner, Sesko scored after redirecting Xaver Schlager's shot that went in the opposite direction. However, the referee ruled it out as offside. The decision was wrong as Sesko was onside, but the referee deemed the presence of Benjamin Henrichs as an interference to Lunin, even though he barely touched him. The decision was weak and lacked conviction. Marco Rose, the coach of Leipzig, thought the goal should have counted. The decision was not surprising for Leipzig, who are currently fifth in the Bundesliga and struggling to find their form. This incident is just another example of the bad luck they are currently experiencing.
It has been a challenging period for the primary energy drink project in European football. There was discussion of disorganization, discussion of a difficult situation, and discussion about the dominant Rasenball pressing system not performing as expected. Following three losses after the winter hiatus, there was great uncertainty about the prospects of Rose continuing as the team's leader. Nevertheless, in the first half, these concerns were not visible as Leipzig adeptly maneuvered the ball through midfield, repeatedly broke through the Madrid defense, and generated several opportunities for Sesko.
The game got more stressful in the second half when Leipzig was trying to catch up. There were still chances to score, but there were also too many mistakes and moments of uncertainty. Xavi Simons played well at first, but Madrid cut off his opportunities. The talented Loïs Openda struggled to make an impact on the game. Aurélien Tchouaméni, who normally plays in the midfield, did an excellent job playing in defense and helped Madrid out many times with his quick movements. Ancelotti made a joke about how he only played there because there was an emergency, but now he needs a new excuse.
At that moment, Madrid had taken the lead. Díaz had started moving towards the right side, aiming for the area behind David Raum. Eventually, he headed towards the inside from that direction and managed to keep his balance even though Raum tried to bring him down.
The end was made with the left foot, magnificent, and went into the highest corner - the type of goal that appears extraordinary no matter how it's viewed. This reveals that the player has been improving quickly and gaining more confidence and intelligence in the game, even though he had to wait for his chance to play since returning from a long-term loan at Milan.
In the end, Madrid is expected to succeed with ease and move closer to their La Liga victory. This will allow them to focus solely on their main objective, winning the championship. Unfortunately, Díaz's injury adds more strain on Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo to perform. Bellingham's return for the next match may prove crucial for Madrid based on their recent performance.
