Real Madrid will be aiming to make it three wins from three in this season's UEFA Champions League when they welcome RB Leipzig to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday.
It has been far from smooth sailing for Jose Mourinho's side in the league phase despite their perfect record, as after edging past Inter on matchday one, they then required late heroics to overcome another Italian side in Roma.
Los Blancos trailed 3-1 heading into the final seven minutes of last week's clash at the Stadio Olimpico before scoring three late goals to claim a dramatic 4-3 success.
As for Leipzig, their poor recent record in the UEFA Champions League continued on matchday one as they lost 4-1 at competition debutantes Como, but they got back on track with last week's 1-0 win against PSV Eindhoven.
However, Saturday's 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Bayern München in the Bundesliga will have no doubt dented confidence ahead of this trip to the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid v RB Leipzig Tips Summary
Best Bet - Real Madrid to win & both teams to score @ 20/21
Alternative Bet - Yan Diomande to assist a goal @ 7/4
Bet Builder - Yan Diomande to score or assist, Over 3 goals, Kylian Mbappe 3+ shots on target & Christopher Nkunku 2+ fouls committed @ 25/4
Real Madrid v RB Leipzig Prediction
Best Bet: Real Madrid to win & both teams to score @ 20/21
Real Madrid have won nine of their 11 matches in all competitions this season, including all six home fixtures, but unlike traditional Mourinho teams, they have done so by scoring plenty of goals.
Los Blancos have scored 29 goals across those 11 games and as well as netting four on the road at Roma in the UEFA Champions League, they have struck four times in four of their six home matches.
That sequence includes Sunday's 4-1 La Liga win over Sevilla, but that game also further underlined Real's defensive frailties, as they have kept just two clean sheets all season.
Leipzig certainly have the attacking tools to hurt Real, with the German side having scored in eight of their nine games this season, a run that includes putting six past Eintracht Frankfurt and five on Hamburg in the Bundesliga.
Keeping teams out is a problem for Martín Demichelis' side though, particularly on the road, as they have shipped 15 in their last four away fixtures, including the six they let in at Bayern München last time out.
This is a contest between two sides that are much better going forward than they are defensively. Ultimately Real are the stronger team and in better form so they should win, but an overdue clean sheet is not likely to be forthcoming for Mourinho and co.
Alternative Bet: Yan Diomande to assist a goal @ 7/4
Winger Yan Diomande is a player Leipzig know well, as he left the RB Arena to join Real Madrid in a deal worth a reported £120m over the summer.
Unsurprisingly given the price tag, Diomande has taken time to settle in Madrid, but there are signs that he is now finding his best form.
The 19-year-old has two goals and two assists across his last three matches, including providing one of each in the weekend win over Sevilla.
Diomande had 22 goal involvements in his sole season with Leipzig, including nine assists, and there could be value in siding with the Ivory Coast international to come back to haunt his former club by laying on a goal for a team-mate.
Real Madrid v RB Leipzig Bet Builder Tip
Yan Diomande to score or assist
Over 3 goals
Kylian Mbappe 3+ shots on target
Christopher Nkunku 2+ fouls committed
Pays 25/4
Diomande is just as capable of finding the back of the net as he is providing an assist, so backing him to do either on Wednesday could pay off as the first part of this fourfold bet builder.
As mentioned, goals seem almost guaranteed at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. There have been 23 scored in Real's six home matches this season and 24 in Leipzig's five road fixtures.
It almost goes without saying that Kylian Mbappe provides Real's biggest goal threat, the Frenchman having netted 11 goals in as many games this season.
Mbappe has scored in both his UEFA Champions League appearances this term - moving outright fifth on the competition's all-time list with his strike against Roma - and he has hit the target with all eight of his shots in Europe this term.
At the other end Christopher Nkunku is a threat for Leipzig, but he has given away a team-high five fouls in Europe this season.
On what could prove a frustrating night, another two infringements cannot be ruled out.
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Key Match Stats
Real Madrid are a perfect six wins from six on home soil this season
Los Blancos have scored four goals on five occasions in 2026/27
Former Leipzig star Yan Diomande has four goal involvements in his last three appearances for Real Madrid
Leipzig have lost four away matches in a row, conceding 15 goals during that sequence
Kylian Mbappe has hit the target with all eight of his shots in this season's UEFA Champions League
Real have won two of their four previous meetings with Leipzig, who have one victory to their name
These two sides last met in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League in 2024, Real coming through 2-1 on aggregate
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
