It is currently an urgent idea to attend RB Leipzig games. Because in the ranks of the cup winners there is a 20-year-old young man named Xavi Simons who never misses an opportunity to attract attention. Three days after the gala against Red Star Belgrade, Xavi led Leipzig to a 4-0 half-time lead against 1. FC Köln, which was extended to a 6-0 win late in the second half. If he were still in Spain, where he grew up and went through the FC Barcelona academy, the spectators in the stands would have waved white handkerchiefs – and carried Xavi out of the arena on their shoulders.
Speaking of shoulders: The victory came at a high price when Dani Olmo suffered a shoulder injury. “It doesn’t look that good, we have to expect a longer downtime,” said coach Marco Rose on Sky. Rose called the Spaniard’s renewed absence “really bitter”.
It was already clear in the 34th minute that Cologne would have to look melancholy at the Rhine after their journey home. Because then Effzeh experienced a moment that carried a single invitation to defeatism. After Timo Werner converted a penalty kick to make it 1-0 (15th), the Cologne team came in front of the Leipzig goal for the first time. And had three chances in one. Luca Waldschmidt didn’t hit the ball properly the first time, but his touchdown landed on the right post. The follow-up shots – which were canceled by the referee because of offside – also did not end up in the net. That gave a certain degree of certainty that it would not be Cologne’s day and that luck would hardly be able to bend in favor of Steffen Baumgart’s team. Xavi guaranteed the rest of the certainty.
He had repeatedly attracted attention throughout the first half with scenes full of sense and intelligence, then he was on the same wavelength as striker Loïs Openda twice. He served the Belgian striker with two passes that were so well-tempered that the brutal completion was brimming with grace. The first time Openda chased the ball under the crossbar to make it 2-0, the second time Openda still had time to hit Cologne central defender Jeff Chabot before making it 4-0. Previously, Xavi had left three Cologne players standing in the half field. In between, Cologne was unlucky again at 3-0: after a cross from Benjamin Henrichs, David Raum had a diving header that goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe was lucky to direct onto the post. But from there the ball bounced so badly against his body that it landed behind the line.
After the break, Leipzig, in the person of Timo Werner, tried to inflict further suffering on Cologne. However, the penalty goal did not give Werner enough confidence to increase his scoring rate, even though he was alone in front of Schwäbe twice. The Cologne team at least brought their center forward Davie Selke dangerously in front of the Leipzig goal. But Selke failed from three meters to Leipzig goalkeeper Blaswich.
Leipzig has to face VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB Cup
After almost an hour, Leipzig coach Rose replaced both Werner and Xavi. Werner had sat on the ground of his own free will; his gestures suggested he had problems with one eye. Xavi, in turn, should be spared for the tasks ahead. Christoph Baumgartner came – and Dani Olmo, whose bad luck with injuries seems to remain true. Because the Spaniard only stayed on the pitch for four minutes. He danced out Luca Kilian – but was immediately knocked off his feet. When he fell, he fell so badly on his left shoulder that he had to be replaced immediately. Fabio Carvalho came.
Just fit again: Dani Olmo has to be treated and replaced after a fall on his shoulder.
(Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa)
After that, the flow of the game was broken. For the final quarter of an hour, Rose brought Benjamin Sesko and Christopher Lenz for Openda and Raum – apparently also to save energy for the cup task on Tuesday. Leipzig will play at VfL Wolfsburg – and can without question be considered favorites there. Not least because of Xavi, who emphatically underlined his claim to be one of the league’s attractions. The Cologne team, in turn, also have to play in the cup against second division club 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Tuesday and against Augsburg next weekend. On this occasion, Cologne will have to do without Mathias Olesen, who was sent off with a yellow card.
Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart was so upset about the second warning against Olesen that he grabbed his temple with his index finger – and also saw a yellow card. Then Sesko and Baumgartner added the final point – Sesko with a hit from four meters, Baumgartner with a spectacular long-range shot that caused Baumgart to lower his head under his pushed-back cap.