Status: 02/24/2022 9:35 p.m
Despite the usury of chances, RB Leipzig reached the round of 16 in the Europa League at Real Sociedad San Sebastián. In the end, however, the Saxons still had to tremble.
Won after 2-2 in the first leg RB Leipzig on Thursday evening (February 24th, 2022) at Real Sociedad San Sebastián in front of 35,000 spectators with 3: 1 (1: 0) and has reached the round of 16 of the Europa League. Willi Orban (38th minute) put the Saxons in the lead, André Silva (59th) increased. According to video evidence, things got really exciting again with a goal from Martín Zubimendi (65th) before substitute Emil Forsberg (89th) made everything clear with a hand penalty.
“It was decent from the first minute, but we should have scored more goals in the first half. It was very mature to survive here,” summarized Leipzig’s goalscorer and defender Orban after the final whistle.
RB starts furiously
RB coach Domenico Tedesco had ordered his team to make a brave appearance. And so Leipzig dominated the first half and had a great chance in the third minute. Konrad Laimer served Lukas Klostermann from the left, who was completely free on the half-right edge of the penalty area, but only managed a pitiful shot.
Eight minutes later, Kevin Kampl had the lead on the heels of a pass from San Sebastián goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who was not always in a good position. Dani Olmo’s shot from long-range went wide of the goal on the right.
After a free kick from Olmo, Orban (18) failed with a direct shot from eight meters at the goalkeeper of the Spaniards. San Sebastián didn’t achieve anything constructive in the first half. La Real only tried to anesthetize coach Imanol Algucil RB’s extremely defensive tactical concept – which ultimately didn’t work.
Penalty awarded, margin sits
However, RB continued to be negligent with his chances. Striker André Silva did not score a legitimate penalty after Ryan fouled Christopher Nkunku in the penalty area – defender Orban switched the fastest, sprinted quickly into the box and sank the ball initially held by Ryan in the margin.
Silva with a hit in the corner
Even after the restart, the Basques continued in their old routine. Leipzig continued to be the literally more alert team. Ryan parried a shot from Olmo (55.) from 22 meters well. Three minutes later he was powerless. RB quickly swept through midfield and Nkunku found Silva, who put the ball in at a right angle from 13 yards out.
Connection gate recognized after video proof
But then Real Sociedad was kissed awake again. Zubimendi scored the goal after 67 minutes – according to video evidence. It took two minutes of checking before it was clear that Elustondo was only passively offside and the goalscorer was not.
Forsberg keeps his nerve
Afterwards, La Real threw everything forward according to his possibilities. Adnan Januzaj (73rd) tested RB keeper Peter Gulacsi with a sly free kick. After a cross from Aihen Muñoz, ex-Dortmunder Alexander Isak (81) headed past the goal on the right. Then Nkunku passed the ball to Aritz Elustondo in the penalty area and there was another penalty. Substitute Forsberg managed to get the penalty in the first attempt this time, even if Ryan guessed the corner.
Source: sportschau.de