RB Leipzig midfielder Rocco Reitz has urged his teammates to improve their defensive organisation and mentality ahead of their upcoming UEFA Champions League meeting with Real Madrid after suffering a heavy 6-1 defeat to Bayern Munich.

According to a report by Madrid Universal on Sunday, October 18, 2026, Reitz believes Leipzig must learn from their disappointing performance and make significant improvements before taking on the Spanish giants in Europe.

Leipzig struggled to contain Bayern throughout the match, with their defensive shortcomings contributing to the emphatic defeat. The result has raised concerns ahead of their next European assignment, particularly given the attacking quality Real Madrid possess.

Speaking after the loss, Reitz expressed hope that his team could quickly move on from the setback and carefully assess what went wrong during the encounter.

He said the players needed to put the defeat behind them, analyse their performance properly and identify the mistakes that must be corrected before their next match.

The midfielder also stressed that Leipzig would need to approach the Champions League fixture with a much stronger fighting spirit, recognising the quality of the opposition they are about to face.

Reitz’s comments reflected his concern about the spaces Bayern were able to exploit during the game. He admitted that Leipzig failed to close down those gaps from the beginning and ultimately paid a heavy price for their defensive lapses.

Those weaknesses could create further problems against Real Madrid, whose attacking options include Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. Leipzig will need to remain compact, limit opportunities for their opponents and avoid the mistakes that contributed to their defeat against Bayern.

With the Champions League encounter approaching, Reitz’s warning highlights the importance of a swift response from the German side. Leipzig must demonstrate greater defensive discipline, better teamwork and a more determined approach if they are to compete effectively against Real Madrid.