Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig Prediction and Betting Tips: Vinicius Junior to score anytime
Real Madrid will attempt to finish the job at home to RB Leipzig in the second leg of their last-16 tie at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
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Carlo Ancelotti’s side left Red Bull Arena with a 1-0 lead after a closely fought and controversial first leg last month.
The decision to disallow Benjamin Sesko’s second-minute header for a nudge on Anriy Lunin looked harsh as the Real Madrid keeper was not in a position to save the striker’s effort.
But Real rode their luck and came away with a slender advantage thanks to Brahim Diaz’s brilliant solo goal in the second half.
Team news
Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Eder Militao are still absent for Real Madrid.
But Antonio Rudiger and Jude Bellingham, who both missed the first leg in Germany, are fit again and expected to feature in Ancelotti’s starting XI.
Red Bulls coach Marco Rose is without injured central defender Lukas Klostermann because of a hip injury and right-back Mohamed Simakan through suspension.
But Xaver Schlager, who missed Saturday’s 4-1 win over Bochum because of a ban, and Lois Openda, who was used as a substitute, should be fresh for the clash.
Predicted XIs for both teams:
- Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Bellingham; Rodrigo, Vinicius Junior.
- RB Leipzig (4-2-2-2): Gulacsi; Heinrichs, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Haidara, Schlager; Olmo, Simons; Openda, Sesko
Real Madrid v RB Leipzig Tips
The first leg was an even game in which both teams had 15 goal attempts and the visitors just shaded possession 51% to the Red Bulls’ 49%.
Had Sesko's early strike not been controversially, and wrongly according to Real midfielder Tony Kroos, disallowed for a seemingly innocuous nudge on the Madrid goalkeeper it could have been a different story.
Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin was much the busier of the two goalkeepers on the night and he could be a key figure in Wednesday’s game too as the Red Bulls throw everything they have at overturning the deficit.
Sesko has been in superb form of late, scoring four goals in his last six Bundesliga appearances, while strike partner Lois Openda has bagged seven goals in his last nine league games.
Rose’s side have scored two or more goals in all three of their away European ties this term and can double up against a Real Madrid defence who conceded twice to a Valencia side much less potent than Leipzig at the weekend, albeit that was away from home.
Vinicius Junior was Real’s saviour at the weekend as his double strike preserved their nine-game unbeaten run in a 2-2 draw with Valencia.
His nine goals in just 17 starts and one substitute appearance in La Liga put him firmly on course to better his tally from last season.
And the forward’s Champions League scoring form remains pretty hot too with the Brazilian having 11 goals and 14 assists to his name in 29 appearances in Europe’s top club competition over the last three seasons.
The former Flamengo man is also a big game player and could be ready to pull out all the stops to keep his team on track for a 15th European Cup/Champions League title this week.
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