Real Madrid lost the top of the table Champions League Group F game as RB Leipzig eliminated the European champions at home with a 3-2 victory.
Marco Rose's team won admirably, ensuring that they will advance on the last matchday if they avoid losing to third-placed Shakhtar Donetsk, while Madrid, who will face Celtic at home, would win the group if they match Leipzig's performance.
In the first 18 minutes of Tuesday's match, Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku both scored goals before Vinicius Junior cut the deficit in half. Despite this, Madrid struggled without Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema.
However, Leipzig substitute Timo Werner had already increased the home team's lead when Rodrygo's penalty was not enough to save the game for Madrid, who so frequently generated late drama during last season's European glory.
After 13 minutes, an acrobatic Andre Silva flick from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner caused a deft Thibaut Courtois save, but the unmarked Gvardiol headed home the rebound. When Courtois strangely sprinted out of his area, Nkunku shot wide, but the attacker quickly made up for it by slamming a left-footed attempt off the underside of the crossbar.
A superb save from Janis Blaswich denied Rodrygo, but the Leipzig goalkeeper was helpless to stop Vinicius from heading in Marco Asensio's right-wing center to equalize.
With only Blaswich to beat, Vinicius missed a wonderful chance to tie the score in stoppage time. Werner made up for it by converting Mohamed Simakan's pinpoint cross. After being knocked down by Nkunku, Rodrygo's late penalty kick was reduced to a minor consolation.
WHY DOES THAT MATTER? LEIPZIG PICK UP THE PACE VERSUS LOS BLANCO'S
After losing their first two games in Europe, Rose's team is once again in charge of their destiny after winning three straight Champions League games for the second time.
Leipzig was the rightful winner even though Madrid had not lost or even given up in any of their previous four away games during the group stage. Madrid's performance without Valverde, Modric, and Benzema may raise questions about their ability to advance as group winners with a home game against Celtic on the last matchday.
SZOBOSZLAI, SILKY
The top teams in Europe are still interested in Nkunku, and his latest goal shows why, but Szoboszlai also deserved praise.
The international player for Hungary was a persistent menace down the right side, producing a game-high three chances in addition to supplying the corner that resulted in the first goal.
VINICIUS LEFT WITHOUT HELP.
When Benzema, the Ballon d'Or winner, was not present, Vinicius was primarily left to direct the Madrid offense by himself.
The Brazilian international took a game-high five shots, three of which found the target, but his miss from within the six-yard box with the score at 2-1 proved costly.
NEXT, WHAT?
On Sunday, Madrid will face Girona in LaLiga play, while Leipzig will welcome Bayer Leverkusen the day before in Bundesliga action.
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