On Tuesday February 13th, 2024, Real Madrid traveled to Red Bull Arena in Leipzig to play against RB Leipzig in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. 

In the second minute of the game, Leipzig Forward Benjamin Sesko scored, only for the linesman to signal offside. Upon reviewing the replays, it became clear that Sesko was indeed onside, yet VAR did not reverse the initial decision. Additionally, another Leipzig player, Benjamin Henrichs, was flagged for offside. Despite not making contact with the ball, he was deemed to have obstructed the goalkeeper’s line of sight. 

Afterward in the second half of the game Madrid Forward Brahim Diaz scored after passing multiple Leipzig Defenders in what many claim as one of the best goals of the competition so far. 

After the conclusion of the game many of RB Leipzig’s players and staff went to the referee to question his decision with their offside goal. With no changes being made, RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose went out to say that the decision was wrong. In his words “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”.

Rose found support from an unlikely person, from Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who agreed the goal should have counted.

The first game ended as a 0-1 win for Real Madrid with the second game to soon be played at The Santiago Bernabeu to determine which team advances to the quarter finals of the Champions League.