Real Madrid vs Leipzig Champions League round of 16 second leg preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, possible line-ups

Real Madrid and Leipzig meet in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg on Wednesday 6 March.

Where to watch Real Madrid vs Leipzig on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What do you need to know?

Brahim Díaz's solo goal in Germany earned Real Madrid a 1-0 first-leg win and admiring glances from around the world. However, Leipzig showed that they can cause their hosts problems in the second leg. As Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos put it, "A solo effort decided tonight's match. I have to be honest, the game could have gone either way."

"A lucky punch decided the game," Leipzig keeper Péter Gulácsi said. "We played well and were definitely not the worse team." Leipzig lost 2-0 in their only previous away match against Madrid, both goals coming late in that group stage meeting last term. Carlo Ancelotti's side are unbeaten in 11 at home in Europe (W10 D1), but Marco Rose's men have no need to be cowed as they visit the Bernabéu.

Predicted line-ups

Real Madrid: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Camavinga, Bellingham/Brahim Díaz; Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo
Misses next match if booked: Bellingham, Camavinga

Leipzig: Gulácsi; Henrichs, Lukeba, Orbán, Raum; Olmo, Haidara, Schlager, Xavi Simons; Openda, Šeško
Suspended: Simakan
Misses next match if booked: Henrichs, Poulsen

Form guide

Real Madrid
Form (all competitions, most recent first): DWDWWD
Most recent result: Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid, 02/03, Spanish La Liga
Spanish La Liga table 

Leipzig
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WLWLDW
Most recent result: Bochum 1-4 Leipzig, 02/03, German Bundesliga
German Bundesliga table

Expert predictions

Graham Hunter, Real Madrid reporter
This return leg comes amid the first suggestion of a hiccup from Real Madrid this season. Nothing dramatic, but three draws in the last five domestic matches have frustrated Carlo Ancelotti. The plus side is that Los Blancos now have the vast majority of their squad fit again – with the Italian coach predicting that Éder Militão and Thibaut Courtois will return early next month. Absolute maximum priority now, let there be no doubt, is to eliminate Leipzig.

Judith Tuffentsammer, Leipzig reporter
Nothing is settled after Leipzig suffered an unlucky 1-0 defeat at home three weeks ago, but given the pedigree of their opponents, it will take everything that the German side have to eke out a victory at the Bernabéu. If they can put in the kind of performance that earned them a 4-1 comeback win at Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Leipzig are capable of rattling the 14-time European champions.

What the coaches say

Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach: "We will have to show the best version of ourselves. The tie is not over yet. We have evaluated the first leg, both the good things and the areas where we can improve. I think we are prepared and that we are going to show improvement. Leipzig are a very dangerous team in transitions."

Marco Rose, Leipzig coach: "We're convinced we can do it. If we weren't, we might as well go home. We'll go to bed [on Tuesday] with the conviction that we will achieve a phenomenal result. We need a little luck, but we can help inspire that. In the first leg we showed Real Madrid that we can go toe to toe with them. Here we are, ready to show it again."

Where is the 2024 Champions League final?

©Getty Images

The best of the best will be crowned on the ultimate stage when the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season concludes at London's prestigious Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June.