Real Madrid advances to Champions League quarterfinals with draw against Leipzig as Ancelotti brushes off tax case
Carlo Ancelotti faced a challenging day, accused of tax fraud by Spanish authorities but saw Real Madrid advance to the Champions League quarterfinals despite a lackluster performance against Leipzig. Madrid secured their spot in the last eight with a 1-1 draw, thanks to a 1-0 win in the first leg in Germany. Ancelotti, accused of defrauding Spanish tax authorities, denied wrongdoing and expressed confidence in his innocence. He addressed the accusations after the match, stating the issue was an old story and expressed hope for a swift resolution. Despite the tax issue looming, Ancelotti remained calm and focused on improving the team’s performance. Madrid struggled against Leipzig, drawing criticism from the home crowd, but ultimately advanced on aggregate.
Vinícius Júnior scored for Madrid after an assist by Jude Bellingham, but Leipzig’s Willi Orbán equalized shortly after. Leipzig had several chances to pull off an upset, including a shot by Dani Olmo that hit the crossbar. Madrid acknowledged their subpar performance but emphasized the importance of reaching the quarterfinals. Leipzig’s coach praised his team’s belief and effort despite the defeat. In the other match, Manchester City defeated Copenhagen to advance to the next round. Madrid, celebrating their anniversary, started slowly and faced a determined Leipzig side. The German team threatened Madrid’s goal, testing goalkeeper Andriy Lunin multiple times. Despite a lack of attempts on target in the first half, Madrid managed to score through Vinícius Júnior.
Leipzig pressed for an equalizer and eventually found it with a header from Orbán. Vinícius Júnior escaped a possible red card after a contentious challenge. The match ended with Madrid securing their place in the quarterfinals. Madrid has consistently performed well in the Champions League in recent years, reaching at least the semifinals each season since 2019-20. Leipzig, despite their efforts, fell short of advancing but showed resilience throughout the tie. Madrid’s form in recent matches has been inconsistent, but they maintain a comfortable lead in the Spanish league. Overall, despite facing adversity off the pitch, Ancelotti and Madrid remain focused on their European campaign.
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