Passed the maturity test, reached the round of 16: RB Leipzig were unfazed by the heated atmosphere in Belgrade's Marakana and advanced to the knockout round of the Champions League for the first time. Xavi Simons (8th minute) and Lois Openda (77th) scored for the visitors in their 2:1 (1:0) soccer duel with Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday evening. The equalizer (81') after Benjamin Henrichs' deflected pass from Guelor Kanga kept the game exciting until the end. But because defending champions Manchester City beat Young Boys Bern at the same time, Leipzig are through to the next round after four of their six group games and cheered in the pouring rain along with the 500 or so fans who had made the journey.
Belgrade's fitness coach Nikola Todoric was shown a red card after 20 minutes after intercepting the onrushing Lois Openda in front of the bench. It was initially unclear whether this was a verbal altercation or whether, in the opinion of the referee, he had held Openda by the arm for longer than necessary in front of the 41,961 spectators.
