31st matchday
RB Leipzig shows Dortmund the limits
RB took a big step towards Champions League qualification by winning against BVB. photo
© Jan Woitas/dpa
RB Leipzig sets an example against Borussia Dortmund and deserves and clearly wins the top game. BVB is worried about its defense chief.
Fantastic goals, a brilliant anniversary Peter Gulacsi – and probably the preliminary decision in the fight for fourth place. RB Leipzig defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-1 (2-1) in the Bundesliga and, in fourth place, extended their lead over BVB, which was one place lower, to five points.
This means that the Saxons should qualify for the Champions League via the normal route with only three games left. Borussia Dortmund, in fifth place, is almost certainly there thanks to the UEFA bonus ticket.
Jadon Sancho (20th minute) gave BVB, who will host Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League on Wednesday, the lead with a fabulous shot into the corner from the left corner of the penalty area. RB striker Lois Openda equalized just three minutes later, before Benjamin Sesko (45.+2) turned the game around in stoppage time in the first half. In front of 47,069 fans in the sold-out Leipzig European Championship Stadium, Mohamed Simakan (46th) increased the score immediately after the break. Substitute Christoph Baumgartner (80th) made everything clear.
RB goalkeeper with anniversary
In the top game, the focus was initially on a top player. Gulacsi played his 300th competitive game for RB Leipzig. Since the Hungarian international became RB Leipzig’s goalkeeper again after tearing his cruciate ligament, the club has not lost. This streak stood at ten games at kick-off – and Gulacsi desperately wanted to extend it. The 33-year-old fended off a header against the direction of Niclas Füllkrug (10th) with an impressive reflex for a corner.
Füllkrug (18th) had the lead again after another corner, but the attempt from just four meters went over the goal. The head also played an important role in Dortmund’s leadership. Namely that of Dani Olmo. The Spanish high-class technician headed a ball from his own penalty area, to his chagrin it landed right at Sancho’s feet – and a few seconds later into the goal behind Gulacsi. It was Leipzig’s first goal conceded in their own stadium after five games to zero.
The black and yellow party only lasted three minutes. Openda deservedly equalized after an assist from Xavi Simons, but had to be patient with the celebrations. Referee Deniz Aytekin initially ruled that Simons was offside, but revised this opinion after the video evidence. Six minutes later, Salih Özcan knocked over Olmo in the penalty area, Aytekin immediately decided on a penalty, but reversed the decision after studying the video again.
This didn’t impress Leipzig, the Saxons were dominant and better. Simons’ (36th) attempt from the edge of the penalty area hit the post. RB had more luck in stoppage time in the first half. After a corner was blocked, the ball landed at Xaver Schlager, who shot from over 20 meters. BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was only able to deflect the shot forward, and Sesko thanked him with his fourth goal in the fourth game in a row.
Terzic changes, Leipzig combines
Dortmund had significantly more possession of the ball, but also significantly fewer shots. Coach Edin Terzic wanted to change that, he brought Marco Reus in for Karim Adeyemi. However, it didn’t even take a minute before the ball was in again. After a throw-in in their own penalty area, Leipzig quickly combined to move forward and took Dortmund’s very high defensive line by surprise. Openda broke through alone and saw Simakan running with him – 3:1.
Of course, BVB wanted to counter immediately, but Gulacsi defused Julian Ryerson’s attempt (49′). A strange double change followed in both defensive lines. Mats Hummels had to go out just as injured as Simakan (51′), but this didn’t hurt the pace of the game. Leipzig limited themselves to counterattacks and got numerous of them. The outstanding Simons (61′) could have crowned his performance with a goal after one of the counterattacks, but his shot whizzed just past the post.
Dortmund pressed for the connection, but Gulacsi had something against it. The veteran deflected a header from Reus (66th) around the post with his fingertips. Youssoufa Moukoko and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens brought new offensive momentum, but RB had the chances. Openda’s (74th) deflected shot was cleared by Kobel with difficulty for a corner. Baumgartner then took the last of BVB’s courage away; after a pass from Benjamin Henrichs, the Austrian beat Kobel from close range to make the decision.