28th matchday
Openda and Alu-Glück: Leipzig makes it clear in Freiburg
RB Leipzig won clearly at SC Freiburg after a convincing performance. photo
© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Leipzig celebrated a confident 4-1 victory in Freiburg. As a result, RB remains in the top group, but the sports club suffered its second home defeat in a row.
Thanks to a lightning start, RB Leipzig has underlined its Champions League ambitions. The Saxons won 4-1 (3-0) at SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga and are still in the top group. With a further 36 points, Freiburg threatens to gradually lose sight of qualifying for the European Cup again.
In a one-sided game that was largely one-sided, Amadou Haidara gave Leipzig the lead after just over a minute in front of 33,200 spectators. Loïs Openda (18th/44th) and Benjamin Sesko (54th) expanded on this. Not enough came from the sports club, which has so far only been able to get one point against the five best-placed teams in the league. Lucas Höler, who hit the crossbar with a hand penalty, was denied a goal (41′). After the break, substitute Vincenzo Grifo scored (59′).
“We only have a chance if we push ourselves to the absolute limit,” Freiburg coach Christian Streich said before the game. However, his team had big problems right from the start and was then taken by surprise. After a cross from Openda, Merlin Röhl lost sight of his opponent. Haidara, who was recently missing due to suspension – one of two new players in Leipzig’s starting eleven – took advantage of his freedom.
Strong game from Openda
With Leipzig’s second goal, the guests showed why they are one of the strongest counterattacking teams in the league. Even before the game there were eleven goals for RB after counterattacks in the statistics. Openda followed up with the next one. This time defender Lukas Kübler didn’t look good in the running duel.
The game only went in the direction of the Freiburg goalkeeper. In the 24th minute, Noah Atubolu was also able to distinguish himself. The U21 national goalkeeper had the upper hand against Openda. Rose had obviously adjusted his team well. “We know what is waiting for us in Freiburg: a high level of energy, physique, intensity, physicality and duels. That is the basis if you want to survive in Freiburg, or basically against Freiburg,” he said.
The guests demonstrated the required basic virtues and Haidara, Openda and Xavi Simons shone with fine combinations on the offensive. There were also major blunders by the hosts: at 0-3, Openda benefited from an unfortunate move by Yannik Keitel.
Grifo scores the consolation goal
Shortly before, video assistant Sascha Stegemann had intervened and reported a handball by the double goalscorer. Referee Daniel Siebert awarded a penalty, which Höler missed – it fit into the unfortunate picture that Freiburg presented in the first half.
Streich reacted with a system change and two substitutions. However, things didn’t get any better from the hosts’ perspective. RB took things a little more slowly, but continued to dominate the action and made it 4-0 through Sesko. Instead of intervening, the SC defenders just accompanied their opponents. Despite their seemingly hopeless situation, Freiburg didn’t give up and scored their only goal of the afternoon through substitute Grifo.
Now things got more heated. Höler received his fifth yellow card after an altercation with Xaver Schlager and is therefore suspended for the away game against newly promoted Darmstadt 98. However, the emotions no longer had any influence on the score – also because Roland Sallai’s header hit the crossbar (75th).