Real Madrid and Manchester City both won away on Tuesday, respectively against Leipzig (1-0) and Copenhagen (3-1), in their round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.
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The logic was respected for the return of the Champions League. The first round of 16 first leg, Tuesday February 13, resulted in the victory of Real Madrid on the Leipzig pitch (1-0) and Manchester City in Copenhagen (3-1). Favorites against their German opponent, 5th in the Bundesliga, the Madrilenians were still shaken up in Germany.
Carlo Ancelotti’s players knew the threat, having been beaten at Leipzig last season during the group stage. If Real won at the Red Bull Arena, it owes it in part to the splendid goal of Brahim Diaz, author of a solo number (49th). But he also and above all owes it to goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, the replacement for the replacement. In the absence of the holder Thibaut Courtois, injured for the rest of the season, the Madrid club recruited Kepa Arrizabalaga to replace him.
The latter lost his place in recent weeks to Lunin and we understand why given his match in Leipzig. The Ukrainian made nine saves in this match, disgusting Benjamin Sesko (3rd, 10th, 81st), Dani Olmo (51st, 71st), Xavi Simons (81st) and Amadou Haidara (84th), who thought they had done what was necessary to to mark. The Leipzig players finally scored this goal from the start through Sesko (2nd).
City worn by De Bruyne
But it was refused by Irfan Peljto, the referee of the match, for a more than questionable fault. Without being brilliant, without Jude Bellingham and with a team recomposed due to numerous injuries – Aurélien Tchouameni was once again good as a central defender – Real was able to provide the essentials with this away success and will approach the return match with serenity and already one foot in the quarter-finals.
This will also be the case for Manchester City. The Champions League title holder won easily in Copenhagen but had to wait a long time before reaching safety, thanks to Phil Foden’s goal at the end of the match (90th + 2). The Englishman was served on a platter by Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian, who returned to competition at the beginning of January, is already in full possession of his means and has a string of performances where he proves decisive.
This Tuesday, it was he who opened the scoring for the Cityzens at Parken Stadium with a cross strike (11th). It was also he who fought well and allowed Bernardo Silva to give the advantage back to Pep Guardiola’s players (45th). In the meantime, the latter conceded, for the thirteenth time this season, a goal on their opponent’s first shot on target. Magnus Mattsson took advantage of goalkeeper Ederson’s recovery error to equalize (34th). An awkwardness which is not prohibitive for Manchester City, which foresees a seventh qualification in a row for the quarter-finals of the C1.