Real Madrid advances to the round of 16 with a strong standing, set to challenge the current European champions. The narrative leans toward a favorable matchup, yet the calendar demands focus as Carlo Ancelotti contemplates rotation to keep players fresh. Leipzig presents a stern test, demanding points to stay ahead in the group and preserve momentum before a looming clash with Celtic at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid aims to stand out through standout performances from Marco Asensio and Eduardo Camavinga, while senior contributors such as Nacho Fernández, Lucas Vázquez, and Eden Hazard remain options as coaches balance youth and experience. The objective is clear: maintain the depth needed to sustain performance across multiple competitions without sacrificing consistency in the league and Europe.
Injury news complicates the picture briefly. Karim Benzema, Fede Valverde, and Luka Modrić are sidelined for minor issues that forbid pushing them to the limit, while Dani Ceballos and Mariano Díaz are unavailable. The squad will rely on others to deliver the same efficiency shown by the first-choice starters. Real Madrid currently stands among the strongest teams in its history, boasting 14 wins and two draws across 16 matches.
The closest scare came in Warsaw, where Shakhtar Donetsk forced Madrid to cling to a late lifeline as Antonio Rüdiger produced a decisive header. Rüdiger’s moment carried risk to his own health, requiring 20 stitches after the impact. That result serves as a warning ahead of the trip to Leipzig, where securing a point would likely seal top spot in the group, with the final group match against Celtic awaiting at the Bernabéu.
This draw in Warsaw, Shakhtar’s home city due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, interrupted a sequence of five consecutive wins in Madrid’s Champions League campaign and underscored the team’s strength away from home, where four straight group-stage victories had previously been recorded.
Having recovered from a bout of sciatica that kept him out for a month, Thibaut Courtois resumes his place between the posts. In defense, a mix of continuity and innovation emerges as Lucas Vázquez, Antonio Rüdiger, and Nacho balance the lineup with Rodrygo, Camavinga, and Benzema supplying a dynamic attacking trident. Since December 2020, Madrid has not gone without scoring on the road in a group stage, a fact that continues to shape their approach to away matches.
Leipzig arrives from a Bundesliga affair that ended 3-3 after turning a 3-0 deficit into a late comeback against Augsburg. The clash with Real Madrid offers the German side a chance to reset and gain a meaningful result that would boost morale heading into the next phase. Leipzig regains several key players from injury, including Timo Werner, Dani Olmo, and Christopher Nkunku. Werner has featured in minutes against Augsburg but is not expected to be ready for a full 90-minute shift, while Nkunku adds a creative spark to Marco Rose’s plans.
Nkunku, who left his mark with a goal from a free kick in the Augsburg clash, is part of a squad mix that also includes goalkeeper Peter Gulasci, defenders Lukas Klostermann and Konrad Laimer among the available options. Coach Marco Rose will draw from a talented cadre as he builds toward the important European showdown.
Possible squads
Real Madrid: Courtois; Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho; Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Kroos; Asensio, Vinícius, Rodrygo.
RB Leipzig: Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Diallo, Raum; Kampl, Schlager; Szoboszlai, Forsberg; Andre Silva, Nkunku.
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
Stadium: Red Bull Arena Leipzig.
Kick-off: 21:00 local time.