The defending champions started their repeat quest with a thumping 3-0 victory at Celtic. Unfortunately for Real Madrid, they will be without their striker Karim Benzema who suffered a muscle injury in the first half of the match. The French striker will be sidelined for multiple weeks with the injury and misses the home fixture against RB Leipzig.
The Madridistas did not skip a beat with their star man on the bench as they scored three goals in the second half, led by Luka Modric and Vinícius Júnior. Eden Hazard was the substitute who replaced Benzema. Although he is not the player from five seasons ago, the flashes of brilliance are still there, and he will be a vital part of the Madrid attack going forward.
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The RB Leipzig supporters were shocked last week as the Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk won 4-1 in their stadium. The battle for second place will be close in this group, and it was a crucial loss for the German side.
Let’s look at the betting odds for the match between Real Madrid and RB Leipzig.
Ani Sridhar’s 2022-23 Soccer Betting Record: 9-6 (+4.1 units)
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig Odds
- 3-Way Handicap: Real Madrid (-250) | Draw (+425) | RB Leipzig (+600)
- Over/Under Goals: Over 3.5 ( +110) | Under 3.5 (-150)
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (-155) | No (+110)
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig odds and all stats included in this article are current as of Friday, Sept. 9. All odds are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
If not for the Benzema injury, Madrid would be higher favorites going into this match, but at -250, they still do not pose any betting value on the money line. The home team should secure another victory in the group.
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig Betting Tips
The visitors will look to be on the attack for most of the game, leaving them vulnerable to the counter-attack. However, Leipzig cannot afford to lose another game in the group, so a conservative game plan will not be in the cards going into this match.
Real Madrid was one of the best teams against the counter-attack last season. They do not have a possession-based offense but will rely on quick strikes on the counter. Their speed on the left side with Vinicius Jr. is their most significant advantage. The counter-attack will still be strong without Benzema, but it could lean more on the midfield play than the winger.
Leipzig likes to play a high line on defense which is excellent for containing the opposition's midfielders but does leave them susceptible to an attack from the wings. This is where Mykhaylo Mudryk and Marian Shved excelled for Shakhtar against Leipzig and scored three of the four goals in their match.
Madrid held Celtic scoreless, but the Scottish club had plenty of good goal-scoring opportunities. Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku will be critical components of the Leipzig offense and will have to capitalize on their chances.
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 RB Leipzig
The home team will win their second game in the group, while the visitors will return home with two losses to open their 2022 UCL campaign. I expect a high-scoring game with both teams rostering dynamic attacks and differing tactics, which will open up the game.
➕RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid Best Bets
Over 3.5 Goals (+110) at BetMGM Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Since RB Leipzig plays a high line on defense, Vinicius Jr. will have a field day on the left flank. The Spanish forward is an extremely dangerous player on the counter-attack, leading to numerous goal-scoring opportunities for Madrid. Hazard will likely play almost like a false nine if he draws the start in the middle of the attack and will link up with Modrić in the midfield. Leipzig will have their foot on the pedal in this contest as they try to make up for their loss against Shakhtar, which will open up the field of play.
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➕ Real Madrid To Win And Over 2.5 Combined Goals (-130)
WAGER: 1 Unit
If the RB Leipzig attack is held in check and Over 3.5 goals fail to hit, this is the safer play. Real Madrid is not losing at the Bernabeu, but they have the capability of scoring three goals themselves. The Bundesliga clubs outside Bayern Munich and Dortmund have been weak on the defensive side of the ball. Madrid will be able to exploit the three-man backline of Leipzig and win this game.
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