7th matchday
“Little Witcher” Riemann gives Bochum hope
Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann saves two penalties against RB Leipzig. photo
© Jan Woitas/dpa
Two saved penalties in one game – many in Leipzig had never seen that before. That’s why Bochum’s Manuel Riemann shows how it works. And becomes the hero of a zero number.
His teammates warmed their penalty hero, and the VfL Bochum guest block celebrated Manuel Riemann with chants. But the veteran himself strode briskly into the locker room at the Leipzig stadium after the 0-0 draw with two saved penalties and remained silent as usual. “Sometimes he’s a little sorcerer, the Riemann,” said RB Leipzig’s frustrated offensive player Christoph Baumgartner. “Manu is doing a good job, he’s already saved a lot of penalties.” But two in one game? “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
They know that at VfL. The saves in Leipzig were the tenth and eleventh penalty saves in the Bundesliga. How Riemann does it? “That may remain his secret,” said Bochum coach Thomas Letsch and praised: “He just has a great feeling about it. It’s no coincidence that he has such a good rate.”
Goalkeeper provides support
Overall, Riemann was a great support, remained positive and was player of the game. “Fortunately, an outstanding Manuel Riemann was enough to take a point here. This is a great success for us,” emphasized Letsch.
Of course, VfL is still without a win after the zero number and is still in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. But just the fact that they finally didn’t concede a goal made everyone in the dark blue jersey happy. “The zero was important. We were missing that,” said defender Keven Schlotterbeck. Bochum had previously conceded a whopping 19 goals in six games.
Schlotterbeck fouls Simons
The 26-year-old Schlotterbeck caused Leipzig’s first penalty with his foul on Xavi Simons in the 26th minute, which the fouled player placed too laxly in the right corner. For someone like Riemann, it was a hit.
After a good hour, the 35-year-old was given the next chance to do what was obviously his favorite activity. The usually confident penalty taker Emil Forsberg sent the ball into the right corner with more sharpness, but Riemann was there again.
Perhaps with a slightly increased level of euphoria, Sky expert Dietmar Hamann even brought up a nomination for the 35-year-old Riemann for the national team. And number three. “The third goalkeeper doesn’t hold up anyway. It’s not like he has two left hands. He’s shown in recent years what a great goalkeeper he is,” said the ex-national player and added: “If you have one like that “I would toy with the idea. There are very few penalty killers.”
Bochum fights for a point
Riemann had already shown one of his penalty parades in Leipzig last year. But it was of little use at the time, Bochum lost 4-0. A year and a week later, things were different. Leipzig didn’t know what to do with its 70 percent ball possession; the fatigue was evident after the exhausting weeks with the hits against Bayern Munich and Manchester City. “He plays outstanding games against us. He’s a good guy, great goalkeeper. It would be cool if we beat him again at some point,” said Leipzig coach Marco Rose.
The 47-year-old was of course frustrated by the result, but on the other hand also happy about the point. “On a day like this you usually lose 1-0,” said Rose. Overall, however, he likes the trend of his team. “And that doesn’t change after a point against Bochum.”