Bellingham’s Epic Assist Propels Vinicius and Real Madrid into Quarters
Real Madrid narrowly secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with the help of an impressive assist from Jude Bellingham. Despite Bellingham facing a two-match suspension in La Liga, he shrugged off the ban to contribute to Real Madrid’s victory. Bellingham provided a super assist for Vinicius Junior, who scored the opening goal in the 65th minute. Although Leipzig quickly equalized through captain Willi Orban, Real Madrid advanced to the next round on aggregate after winning the first leg 1-0 in Germany.
Bellingham’s suspension comes as a result of his X-rated reaction during a match against Valencia. After his last-minute goal was ruled out in a 2-2 draw, Bellingham aggressively shouted, “it’s a f***ing goal” repeatedly. He was fined £513 and will miss Real Madrid’s next two league games. However, Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has confirmed that the club will appeal what they believe to be an unfair punishment.
Despite his involvement in the Champions League game, Wednesday was not a great day for Ancelotti. The manager became embroiled in a tax fraud scandal, which could potentially lead to legal consequences. Nevertheless, Real Madrid managed to secure their spot in the quarter-finals, although their performance in the first half was lackluster.
During the first half, Ancelotti opted for an extra midfielder and only one out-and-out attacker, Vinicius Junior. This decision left Bellingham isolated and unable to make a significant impact. Leipzig had several opportunities to capitalize on Real Madrid’s toothless performance but failed to convert any of their chances, with striker Lois Openda missing multiple opportunities.
Real Madrid’s fans expressed their dissatisfaction by whistling in anger at half-time. Ancelotti recognized his mistake and made a substitution, bringing on Rodrygo for Edouard Camavinga. However, it was only in the second half that Real Madrid had their first shot on target, with Rodrygo being denied by former Hereford goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. Two minutes later, Bellingham provided a brilliant pass to Vinicius, who scored the opening goal for Real Madrid.
Although it seemed like Real Madrid had secured their victory, Leipzig responded immediately when Orban headed home David Raum’s cross three minutes later. Leipzig had more chances through Openda and Orban but failed to convert them. In injury time, Dani Olmo hit the bar, adding to the nervy atmosphere for Real Madrid. Despite their unconvincing performance, Real Madrid managed to hold on and secure their place in the quarter-finals.
After the match, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos acknowledged that their performance was not up to par. He stated, “The result is one thing, how you play is another. At half-time, we felt fine about the result, but not about the way we were playing.” Toni Rudiger, Real Madrid’s former Chelsea defender, also admitted that they played poorly and suffered throughout the game.
Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, describing it as a badly-played match with little intensity and attention. He attributed the mental aspect as the determining factor in their victory. Ancelotti also addressed the tax evasion accusations against him, stating that he has already paid the fine and believes he is innocent.
Meanwhile, Leipzig was left to rue missed opportunities. Orban expressed their frustration, saying, “We had so many great chances that you need to make the most of.” Despite their disappointment, Real Madrid managed to advance to the next round of the Champions League.