As they always do, Real Madrid found a way. The defending Champions League holders created little against RB Leipzig and were lucky not to go behind at home, but a late goal by Fede Valverde bailed them out as they continued their perfect start to the 2022/23 season.
After winning 3-0 at Celtic Park in Matchday 1, Real Madrid are top of their group on maximum points. They've now won all eight matches they've played on three different competitive fronts.
But Wednesday's match was difficult from the start as an organized RB Leipzig side did not allow much room for Real Madrid to run through and combine. And on the other end the German club had its handful of chances to take the lead. But poor finishing and Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois prevented a goal.
Real Madrid looked frustrated as the game seemed like they were destined to drop points at home. But an individual effort from Fede Valverde 10 minutes from time was the breakthrough they needed. Then substitute Marco Asensio secure the result in stoppage time as Madrid continue to march on without their captain and attacking inspiration, Karim Benzema.
MORE: 2022/23 Champions League group stage standings & schedule
Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig final score
1H 2H Final
Real Madrid 0 2 2
RB Leipzig 0 0 0
Goals:
RMA — Fede Valverde (Vinicius) — 80th min.
RMA — Marco Asensio (Toni Kroos) — 91st min.
Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig live updates, highlights from Champions League
Final: Real Madrid 2, RB Leipzig 0
91st min.: Goal Real Madrid! Toni Kroos with the corner kick to the top of the box where Marco Asensio drives it home for the goal that will secure all three points for Real Madrid.
86th min.: SUBS Real Madrid & Leipzig. Minutes after Ferland Mendy came on for David Alaba at left back, and Toni Kroos came on for Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos (for Vinicius) and Mariano Diaz (for Rodrygo) are also on.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig bring on their two forwards off the bench: Andre Silva and Yussuf Poulsen.
80th min.: Real Madrid goal! Fede Valverde gets the ball at the top of the box, fakes a shot, puts it on his left and curls it home. Real Madrid, as they so often do, have found the moment. Subs are coming.
75th min.: SUBS Leipzig. Henrichs on for Simakan at right back, while Kampl replaces Haidara in midfield. Haidara had picked up a yellow card for a hand in the face of Vinicius as he defended the ball from him.
73rd min.: Real Madrid chance. It's Rodrygo, Valverde and Vinicius combining, but Leipzig's 'keeper thwarts the chance and Marco Asensio can't get the loose ball on target. At least it's some promise from the home crowd.
64th min.: SUB Real Madrid. Marco Asensio on for Eduardo Camavinga and Asensio will go wide right with Fede Valverde going into midfield.
62nd min.: Awful free kick from Real Madrid. Rodrygo takes it with no conviction and it finishes five metres over the bar. That sums up Real Madrid's night and the changes are coming.
57th min.: Better start from Real Madrid who have a tad more urgency. But Real Madrid are getting frustrated as Rodrygo and Simakan go nose-to-nose at one point. Real These are moments where Real Madrid are missing their injured captain Karim Benzema.
46th min.: Second half is underway. No changes.
Halftime: Real Madrid 0, RB Leipzig 0
Halftime: Real Madrid are not themselves and they're about to get a talking to from manager Carlo Ancelotti. The defending champions were sleepwalking through that first half and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was the only one who was alert. With a little more lucky, Leipzig could've had the lead. We'll see if Madrid can turn up the intensity in the second half.
43rd min.: Real Madrid penalty shout! But it wasn't given! Italian referee Maurizio Mariani looks the other way despite the fact that Schlager clatters into the back of Luka Modric in the Leipzig box. The referee may have felt he went down too easily.
38th min.: Of course the best Real Madrid chance is a header by Antonio Rudiger that isn't clean enough to trouble Leipzig's 'keeper.
34th min.: Leipzig chance. The visitors should've taken the lead. Madrid are lifeless, and Timo Werner just waltzes through the backline and delivers a cross into the six-yard box that a sliding Nkunku can't reach. Madrid are lucky not to be down at home.
28th min.: Leipzig chance ... again! In the space between the lines Timo Werner scoops the ball ahead to Nkunku who pokes the ball off charging goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. This has not been a characteristic Madrid performance.
20th min.: Leipzig chance. This one also comes in transition and Timo Werner tees up Emil Forsberg, but he can't get the shot on target from the top of the box. He could've done better there.
Real Madrid are not taking many risks, and Leipzig are organized on defense. It's a perfect start for the German side and the record Champions League winners are frustrated.
10th min.: Leipzig chance. Nkunku again dangerous and he goes down in the Madrid box, sandwiched by Dani Carvajal and Nacho. No whistle from the referee. It wasn't so clear-cut on the replay. Probably a good no-call.
10th min.: Real Madrid has had a quiet start. Then again it doesn't look like the field conditions are helping much.
5th min.: Chance Leipzig! Nkunku runs onto a pass straight through the middle of the Madrid defense, but Thibaut Courtois is ready to stop the shot, conceding a corner. Nothing comes of it.
1st min.: We're off. Leipzig get us started. Real Madrid in white, Leipzig in black.
5 minutes to kickoff: Teams are on the field and the Champions League hymn is filling the Bernabeu.
30 minutes to kickoff: It's all about the little details:
30 minutes to kickoff: Luka Modric is starting to set or tie all the "oldest player to ..." records.
1 hour to kickoff: It's Germany vs. Spain, Part 3 in this Champions League. Not many are predicting a clean sweep for the Bundesliga sides.
Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig lineups, team news
Carlo Ancelotti will have to do without Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez, and center-back Eder Militao, who's back in training, but won't be risked with the Madrid derby on tap this Sunday in La Liga. Right-back Alvaro Odriozola is available off the bench after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while Rodrygo gets the start over Eden Hazard after the former outplayed the latter with a goal and assist last weekend against Mallorca. Nacho will wear the captain's armband.
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Courtois (GK) — 2-Carvajal, 22-Rudiger, 6-Nacho, 4-Alaba — 10-Modric, 18-Tchouameni, 12-Camavinga — 15-Valverde, 21-Rodrygo, 20-Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid subs (10): 13-Lunin (GK), 26-Lopez (GK), 16-Odriozola, 5-Vallejo, 23-Mendy, 8-Kroos, 19-Ceballos, 11-Asensio, 7-Hazard, 24-Mariano
Leipzig manager Marco Rose has a handful of key injury absences, chief among them being playmaker Dani Olmo (knee ligament injury), defender Lukas Klostermann (ankle injury in first match of the Bundesliga season), and now key midfield dynamo Konrad Laimer (left ankle ligaments), who picked up his injury over the weekend. At least forward Yussuf Poulsen was back on the bench last weekend and is available again.
RB Leipzig starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1-Gulacsi (GK) — 2-Simakan, 4-Orban, 37-Diallo, 22-Raum — 8-Haidara, 24-Schlager — 18-Nkunku, 10-Forsberg, 17-Szoboszlai — 11-Werner
RB Leipzig subs (8): 21-Blaswich (GK), 32-Gvardiol, 23-Halstenberg, 39-Henrichs, 44-Kampl, 38-Novoa Ramos, 9-Poulsen, 19-Silva,
Real Madrid vs. RB Leipzig TV channel, live stream
Date Time TV Channel Streaming
Australia Thu, Sept. 15 05:00 AEST — Stan Sport
Canada Wed, Sept. 14 15:00 ET — DAZN
Hong Kong Thu, Sept. 15 03:00 HKST beIN Sports 5 beIN Sports Connect
India Thu, Sept. 15 00:30 IST Sony Six JioTV, Sony LIV
Malaysia Thu, Sept. 15 03:00 MT — beIN Sports Connect
New Zealand Thu, Sept. 15 07:00 NZST — Spark Sport
Singapore Thu, Sept. 15 03:00 SST — beIN Sports Connect
UK Wed, Sept. 14 20:00 BST BT Sport 4 BT Sport site/app
USA Wed, Sept. 14 15:00 ET UniMas, TUDN fuboTV, Paramount+, ViX+
UK: The Champions League group stage match between Real Madrid and RB Leipzig will be televised on BT Sport 4, and it can be streamed on both the BT Sport app and website.
USA: In the United States, the match from the Bernabeu will be televised on UniMas and TUDN, two channels that are both streamed on fuboTV. The match will also be streamed in English on CBS's subscription-based platform Paramount+ and on the Univision Spanish-language streaming service ViX+.
Canada: Every Champions League match all season long is streamed in Canada via DAZN.
Australia: Every Champions League match all season long is streamed in Australia via Stan Sport.