Champions League: Real Madrid survive Leipzig scare as Manchester City ease into quarter-finals

snuck into the quarter-finals of the on Wednesday night despite a lacklustre performance against RB Leipzig, while enjoyed total control against Copenhagen.

Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions netted twice inside the first 10 minutes to allay any fears over their progression to the last eight, winning 6-2 on aggregate, though 14-time champions Real were made to sweat at the Bernabeu despite going into the second leg with a one-goal advantage.

Leipzig gave the hosts several early scares from quick transitions but wasted the opportunities; Benjamin Sesko went alone despite having two better positioned team-mates alongside him – though he was later flagged offside – and then Lois Openda ignored an overlap for a speculative effort.

Real did not have an orthodox striker on the pitch, with Jude Bellingham the furthest player forward, and were playing rather slow and passive – so much so that they did not muster an effort on target in the first half.

They also looked open at the other end of the pitch and another rapid turnover and break set Openda free again, though he dragged his effort wide of the far post.

The whistles that rung around the Bernabeu as half-time approached underlined how nervy and restless the home crowd had become and Leipzig twice went close to finding an opener before the break. Xavi Simons forced Andriy Lunin into a fine save and, from a follow-up corner, Openda rippled the side netting with a ferocious effort.

Carlo Ancelotti responded by bringing on Rodrygo for the second half but it did little to change the tempo and flow of the game and Real were fortunate not to concede when Lunin bizarrely raced out of his goal and was rounded by Openda, but he could not get off a shot into an unguarded net.

Real finally tested Peter Gulacsi shortly after the hour-mark, with Rodrygo’s deflected effort almost sneaking in at the near post, and they opened the scoring not long after.

Toni Kroos won possession on the edge of his own box and released Bellingham, who strode forward purposefully. He ignored an early pass to Vinicius, waiting and waiting for the perfect moment, before playing a cute little through-ball for the Brazilian who slammed home with his first touch.

Leipzig did not wilt after conceding, though, and Simons saw a goal-bound effort blocked within moments of the restart. The Bundesliga outfit continued to apply pressure and got a deserved goal when David Raum whipped in a teasing cross for Willi Orban, who glanced a header in at the far post to put the tie back in the balance.

Suddenly this was turning into a very nervy night, with Openda spurning another good chance while Sesko was also gifted an opportunity. Real were struggling to get out of their own half and Luka Modric was brought on to bring some semblance of control, but still Leipzig racked up chances.

Slowly Modric’s calmness and methodical passing started to take some of the sting out of the contest and a brilliant run from Rodrygo should have Ki**ed the tie had the Brazilian’s finish matched his mazy dribble.

But Leipzig still had chances even in stoppage time and Dani Olmo was inches away from sending the match to extra-time when he cushioned a delicate lob onto the crossbar.

The German side laid siege to Real’s penalty box in the final embers but, by the skin of their teeth, Real survived with a 1-1 draw on the night and 2-1 win on aggregate. They will need to improve immeasurably if they are to pose a threat to other sides left in the competition.

Over at the Etihad, meanwhile, there was little doubt that defending champions Manchester City would advance to the quarter-finals having taken a 3-1 lead back with them from Copenhagen.

Guardiola had insisted he was taking the match very seriously, but after making seven changes to the team that won the Manchester derby, it was clear he had one eye on the huge trip to Liverpool this weekend.

Nevertheless, it didn’t take long for City to put the tie firmly out of Copenhagen’s reach, with Manuel Akanji volleying home from a corner inside five minutes.

Just moments later, things got worse for the visitors, with keeper Kamil Grabara enduring a nightmare moment he will want to forget in a hurry.

From another corner, Rodri cracked the crossbar before the ball found its way back to Julian Alvarez whose hopeful hit was spilled by Grabara into the back of the net, bringing back memories of Liverpool’s Loris Karius in the 2018 final.

From there, it looked to be a question of not if but when City would score again, but Copenhagen had other ideas, and after a scintillating run and 1-2 with Orri Oskarsson, former Southampton star Mohamed Elyounoussi fired past Ederson just before the half-hour mark.

Even though the score was 5-2 in their favour, the Citizens took few risks from that point, though that did not stop Erling Haaland from grabbing his customary goal on the stroke of half-time.

Rodri lofted a long ball forward for the Norwegian striker who did what he does best, outmuscling defenders before guiding the ball home – thanks in part to a small deflection.

Substitute Magnus Mattsson came close to grabbing another consolation, only to be denied by Ederson, but chances were few and far between in the second-half as City cruised into the last eight with relative fuss or drama.

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