Yan Diomande set for RB Leipzig reunion in UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid
On Matchday 3 of their UEFA Champions League campaign, Martín Demichelis’ RB Leipzig side face one of the toughest tests of their European credentials with a trip to Real Madrid’s famous Bernabéu — and a reunion with Yan Diomande, who enjoyed a spell‑binding 2025/26 season with the club.
Facing off against the Ivorian winger certainly adds an intriguing subplot to Leipzig’s trip to Spain. After all, Diomande lit up the Bundesliga in his only season in Germany to date, registering 12 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Die Roten Bullen before earning his high-profile switch to Madrid in the summer.
After a slower start to life at the Bernabéu, Diomande seems to be finding his feet. In his first five outings for Los Blancos, the 19-year-old was limited to cameo appearances from the bench. Now, though, the winger has started four of Madrid’s previous five matches in all competitions, contributing one goal and two assists in that period.
Watch: Diomande's best moments for Leipzig
Though his pace, dribbling, and directness were central facets of Leipzig’s attacking identity last season — qualities Demichelis will no doubt be wary of — it may come as a surprise that the Saxon outfit have actually been more formidable in front of goal since his departure.
At this same stage in the previous campaign, Leipzig had taken 13 points from their opening six Bundesliga games (W4, D1, L1), scoring eight goals and conceding nine.
While Demichelis’ charges have only returned nine points from the available 18 so far (W3, L3), they have managed to find the net 16 times while letting in 11 goals at the other end.
This increase in their goalscoring output can be chalked down in large part to the impressive form of Antonio Nusa and Christopher Nkunku - who have managed a combined 11 goal involvements between them - and the more fluid style of play adopted under Demichelis.
Another important consideration is that although their points return has dipped from this stage last term, Leipzig have also had Champions League responsibilities to juggle this campaign under Demichelis, having only had the Bundesliga and DFB Cup to focus on under Ole Werner in 2025/26.
The Argentine head coach may be burdened by an increased workload, but Demichelis arrives in Spain with a unique footnote to his coaching career so far: The Leipzig boss boasts a 100 percent record against Los Blancos, having overseen a 2-1 victory on Matchday 30 of the 2025/26 La Liga season in his only previous meeting with Madrid back in April.
Watch: Nkunku and Nusa - Leipzig's deadly double act
The three points may have proved insufficient for Mallorca, who suffered relegation last term, but it was by all accounts an outstanding result built on hard-work, intensity and resilience - traits Demichelis has worked to instil in Leipzig since arriving in the summer.
Indeed, these qualities came to the fore in Leipzig’s recent 1-0 win over Dutch champions PSV on Matchday 2 of the Champions League, which saw his charges bounce back from opening-day disappointment away to Como.
After the victory, Demichelis praised his team’s mentality, saying: “They made life difficult for us. When you can’t play the way you want to, you need passion. The lads fought right until the end. That’s why I’m proud of the team.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming challenge in Madrid, he added: “We’ve got nothing to lose […] and a lot to gain. We’ll try to enjoy [it].”
Despite the 6-1 setback against Bayern Munich on Matchday 6, Leipzig travel to Madrid with clear ambitions of bouncing back - and with a coach who has already proved he can outmanoeuvre the 15-time European champions from the touchline.
The reunion with Diomande adds emotional weight, but the focus remains on delivering another disciplined, high‑energy performance on the Champions League stage.
