Real Madrid Advances to Champions League Quarterfinals Despite Cautious Celebration from Defender Antonio Rüdiger

Real Madrid secured their spot in the Champions League quarterfinals with a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig at home, advancing 2-1 on aggregate. It wasn't a pretty win, but they got the job done.

Despite the victory, defender Antonio Rüdiger expressed disappointment with the team's lackluster performance. He mentioned that there would be no celebrations for making it to the last eight.

"They played well and we played poorly," he told CBS Sports. "I don't think we were focused on the first game, we were just not at our best. We were sluggish, lacked intensity, avoided challenges, and in the Champions League, these mistakes can cost us."

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group G - Manchester City v RB Leipzig - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 28, 2023 Manchester City's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their third goal with Erling Braut Haaland REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Manchester City faced RB Leipzig in Group G of the Champions League at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Britain on November 28, 2023. Julian Alvarez from Manchester City celebrated after scoring their third goal, with Erling Braut Haaland also joining in on the celebration. The moment was captured by photographer Molly Darlington from Reuters.

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At the end of the day, it's important to remain calm and not get too worked up. The opposing team played well, putting pressure on us and causing us to struggle to find a solution.

The key takeaway is that in the Champions League, you can't afford to have a slow start or finish. It's essential to stay focused for the full 90 minutes and even beyond. While we didn't deliver a strong performance, we managed to advance to the quarterfinals.

RB Leipzig, after their narrow 1-0 loss at home in the first leg, came to the Santiago Bernabéu with a clear mission on Wednesday. They dominated the game against Real Madrid for most of the 90 minutes.

The German team had numerous opportunities to score, but unfortunately, they were unable to find the back of the net and even the overall score.

The team's wastefulness in front of goal came back to haunt them when Real Madrid capitalized on a counterattack after 65 minutes. Jude Bellingham made a great run forward and assisted Vinícius Jr. for a powerful goal.

But Leipzig didn't give up and finally found the back of the net just three minutes later. Willi Orbán scored with a diving header off a cross from David Raum.

Leipzig outplayed Real for much of the game.

Leipzig outplayed Real for much of the game.

Javier Soriano/AFP via Getty Images

As the clock ticked into the final few minutes, it was Los Merengues that were forced to hang on for the draw, fending off wave after wave of Leipzig attacks.

Dani Olmo almost scored a crucial goal in stoppage time that could have forced extra time, but his clever shot hit the top of the crossbar with goalkeeper Andriy Lunin unable to stop it.

After the match, Rüdiger confessed that the team had a tough time and "suffered a lot" during the game.

Bellingham agreed with his teammate's assessment, acknowledging that the team did not deliver their best performance. However, he expressed pride in their ability to secure a win despite the challenges they faced.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Bellingham admitted, "We weren't at our best tonight. This applies to us as a team, as individuals, and even to my own performance. Sometimes, winning doesn't come from playing beautiful football. It's about grinding it out, defending well when needed, making crucial blocks, and capitalizing on the opportunities that come our way."

We accomplished that tonight with Vini, feeling happy to advance but still wanting more. Despite the 1-1 draw, it's important to note that we were up against a strong Leipzig team who played exceptionally well throughout the game. It's true that we didn't have our best performance, but credit to Leipzig for their quality as well.

The draw for the Champions League quarterfinals, semifinals, and final is scheduled for March 15.

Editor's P/S:

Real Madrid's victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League was hard-fought, with the German side dominating much of the match. Despite their lackluster performance, Madrid managed to advance to the quarterfinals, leaving defender Antonio Rüdiger disappointed with the team's display. Rüdiger criticized the team's lack of focus, intensity, and failure to avoid challenges, highlighting the importance of staying focused for the entire match in the Champions League.

Manchester City's victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League group stage was a dominant performance, with the English side showcasing their attacking prowess. Julian Alvarez and Erling Braut Haaland celebrated their goals with joy, capturing the moment with photographer Molly Darlington from Reuters. The match was a testament to Manchester City's quality and their ability to control the game, putting pressure on their opponents and creating numerous scoring opportunities.