After an early lead, RB Leipzig seemed to lack the necessary strength against SC Freiburg. But then came substitute Christoph Baumgartner, who was his team led to a 3:1 (1:1) victory in the final quarter of an hour.
“In the end we deserved to win the game.”, Baumgartner cheered. He saw the personnel changes as crucial: “Of course the fresh players did us some good. The game was on a knife’s edge at that point.”
Freiburg’s goalscorer Merlin Röhl said: “It’s a shame how it went. We should have been in the crucial phase when Leipzig Punch could just as easily score the decisive goal. It was balanced.”
Both teams started the game with momentum
Both teams started the final game of the eleventh Bundesliga matchday with a big chest. Leipzig ended the winter with a hard-fought 2-1 win in Belgrade during the week Champions League made it clear that Freiburg had a place in Europe League the Serbian one team from Topola defeated 5-0.
Xavi irresistible – Leipzig in the front early
Leipzig in particular seemed inspired. It didn’t take six minutes until it was there team from coach Marco Rose in front. Xavi stole the ball from Freiburg’s Lucas Höler in the opposing half. The Dutchman took a few more steps and shot the ball from a good 20 meters into the far corner – 1-0 (6th).
Leipzig stuck with it, remained superior and pushed SC vehemently onto the defensive. After a good 20 minutes it was almost 2-0: The hard-working Lois Openda got into a good finishing position on the right side of the edge of the penalty area and aimed for the left corner with his right outer instep. SCF goalkeeper Noah Atubolu stretched himself out and barely steered the ball around the post with his fingertips.
Freiburg rebels, a goal doesn’t count
But Freiburg has become one for some time now team with high Bundesliga demands. This became apparent when the opponent’s intensity decreased after a good half hour. The SC recognized and took advantage of this immediately – now attacked in turn.
After 35 minutes the ball was in the Leipzig net, Kilian Sildillia had scored and scored. Alone: The Freiburg wing player was one step offside when Maximilian Eggestein’s previous long-range shot. The hit didn’t count.
Röhl sensationally made it 1-1
But the compensation was only postponed. Merlin Röhl started an almost irresistible solo run in the 45th minute, in which he ultimately made Lukas Klostermann in particular look very old. From 15 meters he shot the ball brilliantly into the far corner – just like Xavi did on the other side. It was 1:1 at the break. And Röhl had his first Bundesliga goal to his name.
Freiburg had one draw at the break and almost took the lead after the break. Vincenzo Grifo had set up Noah Weißhaupt on the left with a wonderful interface pass. Höler converted his cross in the middle to make it 1-2 (56′) – but here too the linesman’s flag was rightly up. The cross giver was just offside.
RB save substitutions
The people of Leipzig now seemed to be running out of strength. In particular, the offensive around the lively Xavi was barely able to put itself in the spotlight. Freiburg became dominant. RBCoach Rose tried to counteract with a three-man substitution (70th), but that was how he really dominated team not.
But there was still room for celebration: Substitute Christoph Baumgartner was hit on the right foot by Grifo in the 78th minute – because it happened in the Freiburg penalty area, referee Patrick Ittrich had no other choice: a penalty. Lois Openda made it 2-1.
Baumgartner decides the game
Barely two turns of the pointer later, the game was decided: after a Leipzig counter, Baumgartner had a free shot on the right. His 16-meter shot was deflected into the near corner – 3-1 (80′). The substitute almost had the game all to himself team decided.
Leipzig against Wolfsburg, Freiburg welcomes Darmstadt
RB Leipzig will face VfL Wolfsburg on matchday 12 (Saturday, November 25th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Freiburg is challenged against Darmstadt at the same time.