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 quarterfinals of the Champions League despite drawing 1-1 at home against RB Leipzig.

Jude Bellingham scored Madrid’s goal for Vinicius but the Germans equalized through Willi Orban and when the English midfielder was substituted four minutes from time the tie was still in play.

He watched from the sidelines as the 14-time champions narrowly avoided extra time. When Dani Olmo’s shot hit the crossbar in added time, the Santiago Bernabéu feared the worst.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team was whistled by their own fans at half-time after a regrettable first half.

The booing began 10 minutes before the half-time whistle as they played too slow and predictable to bother the Germans.

Vinicius clipped a pass from Jude Bellingham in the 65th minute to make the tie 2-0.

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The Italian had chosen five midfielders plus Vinicius, and Bellingham had to play almost as a center forward.

The more Madrid fought, the deeper they got to the ball and the more it seemed like the home team was playing 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, gained confidence with former Barcelona youngsters Xavi Simons and Olmo causing problems. Simons had one shot deflected and another saved by Andriy Lunin.

Ancelotti brought on Rodrgyo for the second 45 minutes and he provided a spark of positivity that immediately exploded down the right and won a free kick.

But Madrid was still nervous about such a slim lead. And the anxiety increased even more when Vinicius risked receiving a red card. He collided with Willi Orban and was cautioned, but for the subsequent push to the Leipzig defender he could have been sent off.

Leipzig manager Marco Rose was furious that he stayed on, and even more so when he put Madrid ahead in the 65th minute. Toni Kroos gained depth, Bellingham galloped forward and when Vinicius made a smart run at him, he played him in and saw the Brazilian finish mercilessly in the corner.

But that didn’t end Leipzig, who equalized on the night when Orban headed in David Raum’s cross just three minutes later, getting ahead of Nacho to direct his shot past Lunin.

With six minutes left Bellingham was replaced by Joselu. He seemed to come up empty towards the end of the match, but it was Ancelotti’s gamble and extra time was still a possibility.

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

Leipzig defender Orban gave his team a lifeline by heading a header into the net.

He hadn’t had his best game firing a shot at Rodrygo in the penalty area, the kind of opportunity that came his way earlier in the season.

But it was still his magic that scored the most important goal. He ran towards Kroos after the goal: the German had won the ball deep and the play began. But it was the English midfielder who really transformed defense into attack and made the perfect pass to Vinicius, who scored.

Madrid ran out of time despite the late scare with a shot from Olmo that hit the crossbar. They stumbled into the quarterfinals rather than striding forward, 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 content with passing, it’s mission accomplished.”