Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig (agg 2-1): Vinicius Jr strikes after escaping red card as hosts squeeze through to Champions League quarter-finals… with Willi Orban’s deft header setting up tense finale

Real Madrid reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League despite a 1-1 home draw against RB Leipzig.

Jude Bellingham scored Madrid’s goal for Vinicius, but the Germans equalized through Willi Orban and when the England midfielder was taken off four minutes from time the tie was still in the balance.

He watched from the sidelines as the fourteen-time champion avoided extra time. When Dani Olmo’s looping shot hit the top of the crossbar in extra time, Santiago Bernabeu feared the worst.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team was whistled away at halftime by their own supporters after a miserable first half.

The cheering started ten minutes before the half-time whistle, as they played too slowly and predictably to bother the Germans.

Vinicius grabbed Jude Bellingham’s pass in the 65th minute to give the tie a 2-0 lead

The Italian had selected five midfielders plus Vinicius, with Bellingham almost forced to play as a striker.

The more Madrid struggled, the deeper he got on the ball and the more the home side seemed to play without a central striker.

They failed to get a shot on target in the first half and Leipzig, chasing a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, grew in confidence, with former Barcelona youngsters Xavi Simons and Olmo causing problems. Simons had one shot deflected and another was saved by Andriy Lunin.

Ancelotti brought on Rodrgyo for the second 45 minutes and he provided a spark of positivity, immediately bursting down the right to win a free-kick.

But Madrid were still nervous with such a small lead. And the concern became even greater when Vinicius risked a red card. He bumped into Willi Orban and was shown a yellow card, but the subsequent attack on the Leipzig defender could have seen him sent off.

Leipzig coach Marco Rose was furious that he stayed on, and even more so when he put Madrid ahead after 65 minutes. Toni Kroos won deep, Bellingham galloped forward and when Vinicius made a smart run over him, he played him in and saw the Brazilian finish ruthlessly in the corner.

But it did not spell death for Leipzig, who drew level on the night when Orban headed in David Raum’s cross just three minutes later and got in front of Nacho to steer his effort past Lunin.

With six minutes to go, Bellingham was replaced by Joselu. He looked deflated towards the end of the game, but it was Ancelotti’s gamble and extra time was still possible.

Vinicius was lucky to escape a red card after pushing Willi Orban to the ground

Leipzig defender Orban gave his side a lifeline when he directed his header into the net

He hadn’t had his best game, firing one shot at Rodrygo in the penalty area – the kind of chance that awaited him earlier in the season.

But it was still his magic that scored the all-important goal. He ran to Kroos after a goal had been scored – the German had won the ball deep and started the move. But it was the English midfielder who really transformed defense into attack, delivering the perfect pass to Vinicius who scored.

Madrid saw time despite the late scare when Olmo’s shot came back off the crossbar. They stumbled instead of reaching the final eight and Nacho admitted they were lucky.

“They played very well and we didn’t,” said the defender. ‘It wasn’t our best night, but we have to be satisfied that we got through it; the mission is accomplished.”