Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig Prediction & Betting Tips

In what promises to be a thrilling encounter, Real Madrid are set to take on RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday, with both teams vying for a spot in the next round of Europe's premier club competition. Real Madrid are firmly expected to get the job done in front of their own fans but RB Leipzig do not come without threat of their own.

Date: 06/03/2024

Kick-off time: 20:00

Location: Santiago Bernabéu

For Real Madrid, the Champions League represents the ultimate prize, and under the guidance of manager Carlo Ancelotti, they are determined to add to their illustrious trophy cabinet. Despite grappling with a string of injuries throughout the season, Real Madrid has enjoyed a successful campaign thus far, sitting comfortably atop the La Liga table with a seven-point cushion.

Despite the injury setbacks, Ancelotti's side boasts a wealth of talent, with the likes of winger Vinícius Júnior, midfielders Toni Kroos and Aurélien Tchouaméni, and top goalscorer Jude Bellingham the standout performers for Los Blancos this season. In the first leg of their tie against RB Leipzig, Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory in Germany, courtesy of an exceptional solo goal from Brahim Díaz.

While Real Madrid may not have been at their best in the first leg, they demonstrated their resilience and decades worth of European nous to grind out a result, a hallmark of their success over the years. With star player Jude Bellingham set to return from injury for the second leg, Real Madrid will be bolstered by his presence and experience in midfield, providing a significant boost to their chances of progression.

As the most successful club in the history of the Champions League, with 14 titles to their name, Real Madrid boast an impressive pedigree in the competition. Having reached at least the semi-finals in eleven of the last thirteen seasons, they have established themselves as the dominant force in European football and will be eager to maintain their status as contenders for the coveted trophy.

A victory in this game would not only secure Real Madrid's place in the next round but also mark their longest winning run in a single Champions League campaign (8 games), a testament to their consistency and quality on the continental stage. With history beckoning, Real Madrid will be leaving no stone unturned in their quest for glory.

On the opposing side, RB Leipzig enter the clash with Real Madrid as underdogs but with a point to prove. Despite enduring a Bundesliga season slightly short of what they would have liked, sitting fifth in the table, Leipzig have shown glimpses of their potential in the Champions League, finishing second in Group G behind Manchester City.

Led by manager Marco Rose, Leipzig boast a talented squad featuring standout players such as Dutch youngster Xavi Simons, striker Loïs Openda, and Spanish attacking midfielder Dani Olmo. Openda has an impressive 17 goals in all competitions in what is his debut season for Leipzig, who Xavi Simons has established himself as one of the most admired young players in the whole of Europe this season.

However, Leipzig's recent record in the knockout stages of the Champions League leaves much to be desired, having drawn one and lost five of their last six knockout games in the competition. Despite their struggles, Leipzig will be hoping to defy the odds and produce a memorable performance against Real Madrid, with the aim of securing a place in the next round.

With qualification for next season's Champions League hanging in the balance, Leipzig understand the importance of a strong showing in Europe's premier club competition. While they may be facing an uphill battle against a formidable Real Madrid side, Leipzig will be drawing inspiration from their past successes and aiming to cause an upset on the grand stage.

Real Madrid Team News:

Jude Bellingham made his return from a brief spell on the sidelines against Valencia at the weekend and will be named in the starting XI here, with not many changes expected from the starting lineup at the Mestalla.

Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Éder Militão will all continue to miss out through injury.

RB Leipzig Team News:

Loïs Openda started on the bench for Leipzig at the weekend but should come back into the starting lineup to partner Benjamin Šeško, while Xaver Schlager should reclaim his spot in the midfield after missing out at the weekend through suspension, likely at the expense of Nicolas Seiwald.

Lukas Klostermann and Christoph Baumgartner both remain out injured.

Real Madrid have had a couple of undesirable results recently but still come into this game in very good shape having gone unbeaten in their last nine games, winning three of their last five. Their latest game saw them drop two points in a 2-2 draw away at Valencia, with a Vinícius Júnior brace sealing a point for Los Blancos in a game that ended in memorable controversy. With just seconds left on the clock, Jude Bellingham headed what he thought was the winning goal into the far corner but the referee immediately chalked the goal out, claiming he'd blown the full-time whistle as the cross came into the box. The Real Madrid players, and most passionately Bellingham himself, furiously protested to the referee but such contestations were ignored, and consequently Bellingham was issued a red card for his overzealous disputes.

Prior to that draw with Valencia, Carlo Ancelotti's side claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Sevilla with a Luke Modrić goal in the 81st minute enough to secure the three points. That game followed a 1-1 draw away at Rayo Vallecano which came after the first leg of this tie and a 4-0 win over Girona.

Madrid are excellent on their own patch and have not lost at the Santiago Bernabéu since a 2-3 defeat to Villarreal back in April 2023, winning four of their last five games on home soil.

RB Leipzig are fresh off the back of a 4-1 hammering of VfL Bochum at the weekend which came via goals from Dani Olma, Loïs Openda, a Bochum own goal and finally a goal from Yussuf Poulsen. The win means they've now won two of their last three games after beating Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 two games back, thanks to goals from Xavi Simons and Loïs Openda, which came before a 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich in which Harry Kane stole the three points with an injury-time strike, completing his brace.

Leipzig have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five games, with their two losses coming at the hands of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Not bad, then, but their inability to get results from those two sides does not bode well for their chances here.

Away from home Leipzig have won just one of their last five matches, drawing two and losing two of the other four.

For this game, we expect Real Madrid to get the job done without too much difficulty. They have more quality, more experience and more nous than their opponents at this level and there's little reason that shouldn't thine through against a Leipzig side that have not shown themselves capable of beating top sides this season. Real Madrid 3-1 RB Leipzig.

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This game will be available to watch live for U.K. viewers on TNT Sports 2.

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