Match report | Openda puts the lid on it: Leipzig is top | RB Leipzig – SC Freiburg 3:1 | 8th matchday | Bundesliga 2024/25

Although Leipzig's clean sheet streak ended in the top duel against Freiburg, RB still celebrated a 3-1 win in the end and is definitely the league leader overnight.

Leipzig's coach Marco Rose not only suffered the third CL defeat in the third CL game in the narrow 0-1 defeat against Liverpool, he also lost Xavi. The Dutchman suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle and will now be out for weeks. In addition to Xavi, Vermeeren (bench) was also missing from the starting line-up for the LFC game. New: Kampl and Baumgartner.

The Freiburgers, who have never won in Leipzig to date (0-3-6) and have also been without a win in eleven competitive games (!) against RB (0-4-7), coach Julian Schuster brought against 3-1 FC Augsburg also had two new players: Rosenfelder and Höfler pushed Ginter and Eggestein to the bench. Schuster changed his starting lineup for the first time in four games and justified his decision with good training performance.

Gulacsi sets a record

Already in the run-up to the duel between the second and third, it was clear that after the final whistle there would be a new leader in the Bundesliga, at least for one night, as Bayern only play against Bochum on Sunday. RB had the better starting position as a draw was enough for the Saxons.

“It’s best not to let anything happen,” Rose admitted before kick-off Sky the route and also relied on the strong defense, which had only conceded two goals in the league. Gulacsi was on the verge of setting a record for the longest time without conceding a goal – and he did. However, the Hungarian had to get the ball out of the net after a quarter of an hour, so he ended up tied for seventh place in the all-time best list.

Pure joy: Junior Adamu and Ritsu Doan (right) celebrate the Japanese's 1-0 win.
IMAGO/Beautiful Sports

By the way, Freiburg's lead was completely okay, as SC was the better team in the first half. The Breisgauers repeatedly won the ball in midfield, were good defensively and also posed more of a goal threat. After Doan's header to make it 1-0 (15th), Kübler (21st), Günter (31st) and Dinkci (33rd) missed the 2-0. Overall, there was too little from RB, too little intensity, too little speed, too little determination. It wasn't until the end of the first half that the Saxons looked dangerous at the front. But because Atubolu was there with two strong saves against Sesko (36th, 39th), the guests went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.

Round two got off to a turbulent start. The kick-off was delayed because Gulacsi had to be substituted due to injury, meaning 22-year-old Vandevoordt unexpectedly celebrated his competitive debut. Then Lienhart also caused a momentous free kick. The guests didn't get the ball cleared decisively, so it reached Orban via Kampl, Haidara and Henrichs in the five – 1:1 (47th).


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Geertruida turns the game around

After Grifo's free kick went over (52') and Junior Adamu's header was parried by Vandevoordt (53'), Baumgartner initiated the turnaround: The Austrian sent Openda steeply, who simply made a sharp cross to the left in the box and was lucky. that the ball slipped through to the rushing Geertruida – the 2-1 was then just a formality (58th).

With the lead behind them, the home side appeared more stable at the back, suddenly they were more grippy in the duels and the previously too large gaps between the chains that had previously appeared again and again were no longer visible. Freiburg barely ignited any real threat to score and went on the decisive counterattack in the 79th minute.

After winning the ball well, Baumgartner passed it on to André Silva, who in turn sent the strong Openda. The Belgian resolutely fueled his way past Rosenfelder, then rounded the rushing Atubolu and slotted in from a tight angle from the right to make it 3-1. If the keeper had stayed in his box, the goal would most likely not have been scored.

Goals and cards


0:1
Doan (15′)


1:1
Orban (47′)

RB Leipzig
  SC Freiburg
 
Game data
RB Leipzig
Leipzig
SC Freiburg
Freiburg
Spielinfo
Stadium Red Bull Arena
Viewers 45.918

But it was the early preliminary decision, as RB then routinely managed the 3-1 win against the seemingly harmless Breisgauer over time and gained fresh self-confidence for the upcoming cup home game on Tuesday (LIVE! from 6 p.m. on kicker) against St. Pauli refueled. Freiburg will also play at home against Hamburger SV the next day from 6 p.m.

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