Madrid, September 15 (BUS): With RB Leipzig wasting one opportunity after another, Real Madrid kept calm.
It was only a matter of time before the European champions punished Leipzig defender.
Real Madrid fended off Leipzig’s good start and scored late goals with Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio to extend their perfect start to the season with a tough 2-0 win in the Champions League group stage, the Associated Press reported.
Valverde scored from inside the area in the 80th minute and Asensio doubled the lead in stoppage time to save Real Madrid their eighth consecutive victory in all competitions.
In their first home game in the competition since winning the 14th European title, Real Madrid struggled from the start and failed to pose much of a threat against a tough Leipzig side until Valverde opened the scoring.
The visitors created the most scoring chances early in the Group F match at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner failed to capitalize on their chances at Leipzig.
“We are very disappointed,” Leipzig defender David Raum said. “We managed to make it an even match. If you take the lead, take it on break, maybe something is possible for us. Their scoring from the first and second shots on goal is brutal, but this is Real Madrid.”
Valverde got off the board with a left-footed curling shot after a pass through the area by Vinicius Jr, and substitute Asensio wrapped up the win with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area following a pass from Toni Kroos’ free kick.
“Leipzig is a good team,” said Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “We didn’t create much in attack, but we turned our chances.”
Real Madrid had only failed to score in one of their last 40 home matches in the Champions League group stage. He has kept seven clean sheets in his last nine Champions League group stage matches.
Leipzig have not failed to score in their previous seven Champions League matches. He has kept only one clean sheet in his last 14 matches in the European competition.
“We struggled in the first half, but we managed to improve and control the game,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We came back from the break with more energy.”
Real Madrid have won seven consecutive times in all competitions, including the European Super Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt to start the season. Five of his victories came with two goals or more, including an opening 3-0 win over Celtic in the Champions League group stage last week.
Real Madrid is still missing the injured Karim Benzema, the best player in the team last season. Ancelotti played with Valverde, Rodrygo and Vinicius up front, leaving Eden Hazard on the bench.
Kroos also started on the bench, with Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Chuamini starting in midfield alongside Luka Modric. In defence, Ancelotti played with David Alaba as a left back and Nacho Fernandez as a central defender alongside Antonio Rudiger.
“It was an intense match where we couldn’t reward ourselves for a decent and attractive performance. I think we deserved more,” said Leipzig coach Marco Rose. “But it’s clear that you need a great 90-minute performance to beat Madrid.”
It was Rose’s second match in Leipzig who replaced Domenico Tedesco after the team’s opening 4-1 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk at home. RB Leipzig defeated Borussia Dortmund in Rose’s debut in the Bundesliga at the weekend.