Champions League: Why was Leipzig's goal disallowed against Real Madrid?

Leipzig were left to rue a controversial disallowed goal in 1-0 home loss to Real Madrid in their last-16 UEFA Champions League clash. The German club had the ball in the back of the net after Benjamin Sesko scored in the second minute, but the linesman raised his flag for offside. There was a quick look by VAR to ascertain whether the goal should have counted but the on-field referee, almost immediately, pointed out that Real Madrid had the ball instead. However, replays showed Sesko was clearly onside. As per many on social media, Benjamin Henrichs, another Leipzig player, was either offside for hampering the goalkeeper’s line of sight or guilty of impeding Andriy Lunin in goal.

Rodrygo appeared to keep Benjamin Sesko onside but VAR ruled RB Leipzig's goal offside. pic.twitter.com/ot43YUPbz8

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 13, 2024

To make things worse for Leipzig, Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz scored a stunning solo goal in the second-half to decide the first-leg. While praising Diaz’s “dream goal”, Leipzig coach Marco Rose told reporters the offside decision was wrong. “There was a goal which should have counted” Rose said, explaining “if we were playing a goal up, maybe things would have turned out differently”.

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— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) February 13, 2024

Rose found some support from Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who agreed the goal should have stood. “He called it offside because he said he obstructed him (Real’s goalie). “The goalkeeper would not have got to the ball, so it was a goal.” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, told reporters “you have to ask the referee” about the controversial call, explaining “I think he said the goalkeeper was bothered by the (Leipzig) player”. Asked if referee Irfan Pelito, who was taking charge of his eighth match in the Champions League, had shown his inexperience in making the call, Rose shot back “I’m not angry with the referee – I don’t want to start a refereeing debate.” “It was a mistake. I think we all saw it was not the right decision. “I also make mistakes – sometimes two or three per day. “What’s important is that you fix them – and that you try and do it better next time.” Rose said his team still had a good chance of progressing to the quarter finals, saying “we want to show ourselves in Madrid”. “We want to be the best we can for Madrid, we want to be the most difficult we can be.”