Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz shoots at objective in the course of the Champions League spherical of 16 conflict in opposition to RB Leipzig on February 13, 2024
| Photo Credit: Reuters
After scoring Real Madrid’s winner with a mazy solo run, Brahim Díaz jogged to the sideline and unfold his arms extensive open to have fun.
He was imitating the trademark objective celebration of Jude Bellingham, the injured teammate he changed within the beginning lineup.
“Oh my god Brahim!!!,” Bellingham wrote on X, moments after the objective.
Díaz stepped up in Bellingham’s absence on Tuesday, main Madrid to a 1-0 win at Leipzig within the spherical of 16 within the Champions League.
“I really like Jude, from the moment he arrived we’ve been getting along,” Díaz mentioned.
“I’m helping him with his Spanish, he is a world-class talent and we are enjoying having him around. He is a great person as well, and I’m very thankful to him.”
Bellingham, considered one of Madrid’s finest gamers this season after becoming a member of from Borussia Dortmund, could not play after spraining his ankle in a Spanish league recreation this weekend. The England worldwide has 20 targets in 29 video games in all competitions this season, together with 4 targets — and three assists — in 5 Champions League matches. He is predicted to be sidelined for 2 to 3 weeks.
The return leg can be on March 6 on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
“We aren’t happy with the result because we had more chances to score and didn’t do that,” Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo mentioned.
“Brahim Díaz has a lot of quality and seized his chance. Real Madrid is one of the best teams in Europe. You have to make the most of your chances against opponents like that.”
In the opposite Champions League recreation Tuesday, Manchester City received 3-1 at FC Copenhagen.
Díaz mixed some nifty dribbles with a strong run to get previous three Leipzig defenders earlier than hitting the highest nook with a left-footed shot from inside the realm within the forty eighth minute.
“I saw they were afraid of coming after me,” he mentioned.
“I’m happy to have helped with the goal, and with with how the team worked hard to make up for the absence of Jude and the other injured players. It showed that we are still a good team, that we are Real Madrid.” Diaz had to get replaced with an obvious muscle harm late within the recreation. He walked off the sector with ice wrapped round his proper calf.
“I don’t know what it is, to be honest,” the 24-year-old Díaz mentioned.
“I’m sure tomorrow we will go through some tests.”
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti once more needed to improvise in protection, as a number of gamers remained injured. He used midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni as one of many central defenders, enjoying alongside Nacho Fernández.
Leipzig had an early objective disallowed for offside and created a lot of the possibilities all through the match, however have been denied by some good saves by Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who has been changing the injured Thibaut Courtois.
“It wasn’t easy,” Ancelotti mentioned.
“We were dangerous on counterattacks but Lunin played a great match. He is playing with a lot of confidence. We have a slight advantage but there’s still a lot to play for.”
Leipzig had received the final assembly between the groups in a group-stage recreation final season.
The German membership has certified for the competitors’s knockout rounds for the fourth time in 5 seasons.
“We’re going to travel to Madrid and try everything,” Leipzig coach Marco Rose mentioned.
“We want to be the most difficult opponent possible for Madrid so that they really have to stretch.”
Madrid has been within the spherical of 16 each season because the format was launched in 2003-04. It has reached no less than the semifinals the final three seasons, having received its record-extending 14th European title in 2022.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
