On Wednesday evening, Real Madrid dumped RB Leipzig out of the Champions League in the round of 16 stage with a 2-1 aggregate win over Marco Rose’s side. Despite Die Roten Bullen’s best efforts, they failed to take their chances against Los Blancos and now face an uphill battle in the Bundesliga to ensure they qualify for the Champions League once again.
Regardless, as reported by Sky Germany, there were many within the Leipzig camp who felt as though luck was not on their side in the Spanish capital. In the 54th minute, Willi Orbán was fouled by Vinícius Jr., and as the two returned to their feet, a clash ensued.
The Brazilian then proceeded to push Orbán down the floor with both hands seemingly around the neck of the Leipzig captain. However, only a yellow card was brandished, and VAR failed to intervene, leaving Leipzig more than frustrated.
“What should I say? I’ll ask you: What do you think now if it had happened the other way around? Would one of our players have gotten a red card? I’ll say it quite openly. Honestly, if it were the other way around and one of our players attacked a Real Madrid player, then he’d be thrown off the field, 100 percent!” remarked Benjamin Henrichs to DAZN after full-time.
Orbán would also vent his frustration to Sky Sports Austria after the game, explaining his amazement at the decision: “Unfortunately, the referees don’t have the courage to send such players off. You can give them a red card. It takes effect with both hands on my throat. That’s just disrespectful!”
To rub salt into the Leipzig wounds, Vinícius Jr. scored 11 minutes later to double Madrid’s advantage over the tie. While it would be Orbán to level the score on the night, ultimately it would not be enough, and Rose’s side will be left rueing their missed chances just as much as the decisions that went against them.
GGFN | Will Shopland
