4th matchday
RB Leipzig with an offensive spectacle against Augsburg
Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs (lr), Xavi Simons and Lois Openda celebrate after Simons’ goal to make it 1-0. photo
© Jan Woitas/dpa
RB Leipzig made their opening defeat at leaders Leverkusen forget with their third win in a row. The outstanding man in the win against Augsburg was top scorer Xavi Simons.
Even without Dani Olmo has RB Leipzig created an offensive spectacle. The German Cup winners defeated FC Augsburg 3-0 (3-0) and won their third win in a row in the Bundesliga.
Before the Champions League opener this Tuesday (6.45 p.m.) at Young Boys Bern, Leipzig’s offensive newcomers were particularly impressive in the absence of Olmo (bruise) and captain Willi Orban (torn lateral ligament).
First, Xavi Simons (7th minute) headed in in front of 44,746 spectators to take the lead, four minutes later Lois Openda, who provided the assist, made it 2-0 after a Xavi pass. David Raum (27th) made the half-time and final score with his first RB goal. While RB is in third place in the Bundesliga table, Augsburg remains winless after four matchdays.
After defense chief Orban was out, RB head coach Marco Rose relied on a French interior block with new signing Castello Lukeba alongside Mohamed Simakan. And 20-year-old Lukeba’s first action was immediately successful. After three minutes, the 30 million man from Olympique Lyon prevented Augsburg’s Dion Drena Beljo’s shot from taking the lead on his starting eleven debut.
Xavi with fourth assist in the fourth game
It was the Fuggerstadt team’s last chance to score. Because RB only knew one direction: forward. Emil Forsberg sent Openda steeply, who crossed delicately from the right towards the penalty spot, where Xavi (6th) artistically took the lead with a diving header. Then the roles are reversed: the loan from Paris Saint-Germain passes to the edge of the penalty area, where the Belgian slides in calmly. For Xavi it was already the fourth assist in the fourth game.
Full-back Raum crowned his top performances of the last few weeks. After a long cross from the right by Yussuf Poulsen, he shot left from a tight angle at full speed and heaved the ball into the near corner – Augsburg keeper Finn Gilbert cut an unfortunate figure. Leipzig’s rate of three shots on goal and three goals up to that point was remarkable.
For the second half, FCA coach Enrico Maaßen brought in four fresh players to help the guests, who seemed overwhelmed. With effect, because substitute Philip Titz challenged RB keeper Janis Blaswich to do a brilliant deed with a header (48th). Suddenly the guests had different body language and several chances. Blaswich again saves with a foot save from close range from Ermedin Demirovic (56th).
RB defended the guests’ pressure phase with a lot of effort. After just over an hour, Rose brought new impetus to the offensive with Benjamin Sesko and Fabio Carvalho and Christoph Baumgartner also made his competitive debut. The final quarter of an hour then belonged to the home team again based on their share of the game – but there were no clear chances to score.