Bundesliga: RB Leipzig loses to crisis club Borussia Dortmund

The first half was an unexpectedly one-sided affair. Dortmund were more active, more dangerous and clearly had better chances, but they just didn’t take advantage of them (10th/14th). The Leipzig team, on the other hand, often made mistakes in building up the game, took advantage of their first opportunity: Sesko hammered the ball under the crossbar from an acute angle after a backheel pass from Openda (27th). However, this surprising and flattering lead did not last long. Because BVB immediately followed up – first with a third big chance (Gittens/29th), then after a corner kick it was 1-1 by Beier, who forwarded a header from Nmecha into the goal (30th). The equalizer was well deserved.

After the break the game became more intense and competitive. But nothing changed in the dominance of the hosts. Leipzig’s defense had to do well. Once again, RB keeper Peter Gulacsi had to save (59th), and Geertruida also blocked a shot from Gittens in dire need (60th). In the 64th minute the time had come: Guirassy headed in the deserved 2-1. Afterwards, RB increased its attacking efforts, but there was no particularly great pressure. Nevertheless, Eljif Elmas had the chance to equalize twice, but first Emre Can saved on the line (71′), and in stoppage time Nico Schlotterbeck blocked the shot from 4 m. On the other hand, Leipzig’s defeat could have been higher, but At least Gulacsi, who was strong again, was able to prevent that.

Marco Rose (RB Leipzig): “We simply weren’t good enough today. In many areas of the game. Dortmund were sharper than us, quicker to act, were cleaner with the ball, made better decisions. I don’t deny my team’s will, but in terms of implementation it wasn’t a good performance today (…) Pete (Gulacsi; editor) played a very strong game, and Willi (Orban, editor) too, two or three boys were still in normal form. But otherwise we weren’t good enough as a team today.”

Nuri Şahin (Dortmund): “That was very important for the table and morale. I never send my team onto the pitch without a plan. The boys knew what we had to do and they did it perfectly today. The boys have a lot of passion We put in the effort, defended our goal and played courageously forward. We’re going our way.”