Real Madrid reached the Champions League quarter-finals as Vinicius Junior provided the quality finish which RB Leipzig lacked to secure a 2-1 aggregate win in the last 16.
Like the first leg, German side Leipzig were made to pay for wasting a host of chances when Vinicius clipped in Jude Bellingham’s pass with 25 minutes left for a 2-0 lead.
Leipzig finally converted an opportunity three minutes later when skipper Willi Orban flicked in a header.
The goal injected renewed confidence into the Bundesliga team, prompting them to persistently attack the Spanish league leaders in search of an equalizer.
Dani Olmo, a former Barcelona player, came agonizingly close to forcing extra time—especially with the away goals rule no longer in effect in UEFA competitions—when his looping header grazed the top of the crossbar during injury time.
Despite the pressure, Real Madrid, with aspirations of securing a record-extending 15th European title, successfully defended their lead and advanced to the quarter-finals for the 12th time in the past 14 seasons.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team will discover their opponents for the quarter-finals when the draw is conducted on Friday, 15 March, at 11:00 GMT.
With a narrow advantage courtesy of Brahim Diaz’s exceptional winning goal in the first leg, there was an anticipation for Real Madrid to showcase their skill and experience to secure victory on their home ground.
Ancelotti emphasized during his pre-match press conference that the tie was still open, aiming to prevent any sense of complacency among his players.
However, his team delivered a lackluster performance, and based on the overall balance of play across both matches, they were somewhat fortunate to advance.
Real Madrid struggled to create scoring opportunities in the opening half and continued to lack ingenuity after the break.
Discontent could be heard from the Bernabeu stands whenever RB Leipzig gained possession, reflecting the unease among home supporters. Their frustration grew as Real Madrid repeatedly surrendered the ball cheaply.
Nevertheless, armed with a wealth of attacking talent, including Vinicius and Bellingham, the hosts eventually found their rhythm.
Toni Kroos, the influential midfielder, initiated a crucial turnover near Real Madrid’s penalty area, swiftly setting Bellingham off on the counter-attack—a worrying sign for Leipzig.
Bellingham confidently drove forward, finding Vinicius with a well-placed pass. The Brazilian winger intelligently cut inside from the left before unleashing a powerful shot into the top corner, putting Real Madrid ahead.