RB Leipzig face the huge task of playing Real Madrid in the Champions League League Stage - 3 on Wednesday. The match at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (9pm local time) comes just days after a heavy 6-1 defeat at Bayern Munich last Saturday.
The loss in Munich saw Leipzig drop to seventh place in the Bundesliga. After six matchdays, their record stands at nine points from three wins and three defeats. They trail leaders Bayern Munich by five points. Recent results have been mixed: a 6-0 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt and a 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven were followed by the debacle in Munich.
Historical record against Real
The previous four meetings with Real Madrid have ended with one win for Leipzig, two losses and one draw. The circumstances for the away fixture are particularly difficult. Real Madrid are in fine domestic form, having recently beaten Sevilla 4-1, with superstar Kylian Mbappé in their ranks. The Spanish giants are an especially tough proposition at their home ground.
For RB Leipzig, the mental recovery from the Munich setback will be key. Goalkeeper Vandevoordt and the defence led by Orbán and Lukeba must deliver a solid performance. In attack, Nkunku carries the main responsibility with four goals this season. He was also the scorer of Leipzig's only goal in the last meeting with Bayern, when Andrija Maksimović found the net in stoppage time.
Preparation for the top fixture is overshadowed by the heavy defeat. "Bosse in der Schaltzentrale nervös" (The bosses in the control centre are nervous), commented Lothar Matthäus on the mood after the Munich game. The team must now prove they have learned from their mistakes. A look at the fixtures shows that after Madrid, a Bundesliga home game against SV Elversberg awaits immediately.
Will he revert to a trusted defensive solidity after the slip-up or surprise with attacking intent? With nine points and a goal difference of 16:11, any further defeat is a setback in the fight for European places. The game in Madrid is an opportunity to make a strong statement before returning to league action at the weekend.
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho confirmed his lineup for the Champions League match on Tuesday. "On Wednesday he is in the starting eleven," Mourinho said about Vinícius Júnior. The Brazilian is eligible to play in the Champions League after a domestic league suspension. This means former Leipzig record signing Yan Diomande, who recently recorded five goal contributions in four games, is likely to start on the bench against his former club. RB Leipzig, sitting seventh in the Bundesliga with nine points, must respond after the 6-1 defeat in Munich.
Update, 20 October 2026 FC Bayern München confirmed the 6-1 victory against RB Leipzig on Saturday. The German record champions overran the Saxons at home. Luis Díaz scored a hat-trick for Bayern, according to the official match reports. Andrija Maksimović scored in stoppage time for Leipzig. Marco Rose's team is in seventh place with nine points.
Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match at Real Madrid, Christoph Baumgartner is set for a comeback for RB Leipzig, the club confirmed. The Austrian international, teammate of Nicolas Seiwald, has been injured. Seiwald commented on the 6-1 defeat in Munich. "It's no use tearing ourselves apart now. We have to learn from it and move on," the midfielder said. The team, seventh in the Bundesliga with nine points, is seeking a response after the Munich debacle.
Update, 21 October 2026 Referee Istvan Kovacs from Romania will officiate RB Leipzig's Champions League match at Real Madrid, according to the official match information. He will be assisted by Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogy. The VAR is Tomasz Kwiatkowski. RB Leipzig, seventh in the Bundesliga with nine points, kicks off at 9 p.m. at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
