RB Leipzig 3-1 Fortuna Düsseldorf: Die Bullen deservedly earn all three points against Fortuna

Leipzig’s Kimmich pounced on a rebound to make it 2-0.

The Red Bull Arena was the venue for Monday’s Bundesliga 2 action and it was the home side that came out on top after a fantastic performance.

The hosts for this evening were 7th place RB Leipzig and they went into the game with two draws and a win in their last three games. Last time out they secured a hard fought draw with the in-form Karlsruher, with another tough test tonight they’ll be hoping to go one better and earn a victory to go 5th.

The visitors, Düsseldorf can also go up to 5th place with a victory. They currently sit in 6th place after defeating Heidenheim and playing a part in the highly entertaining draw with Bochum. Düsseldorf have started to regain their early season form since the departure of Oliver Reck, tonight they’ll be hoping to continue their good start under Taşkın Aksoy.

It was Leipzig that started the better of the two and they took the lead after just seven minutes, a corner from Dominik Kaiser managed to bounce all the way past everyone to find Rodnei free at the back post, the Brazilian took his chance and directed it in. Leipzig continued to cause problems and a long range shot from Stefan Hierländer saw Michael Rensing in action, however he comfortably saved.

Rensing was the busier of the two keepers and he had to be alert to keep his side in the game. From a freekick he managed to pull off a good save with his forearm to deny Anthony Jung. Leipzig were by far the better side and they finally got a deserved second just before the half hour mark. Emil Forsberg fired a great effort on target and Rensing once again provided a save, unfortunately he palmed the ball into the path of Joshua Kimmich, who converted his chance as the Düsseldorf defence were caught out once more.

The hosts took a deserved lead into the break, their pressing was impressive and it worked wonders in stopping Düsseldorf playing and Fabio Coltori in the Leipzig goal went largely unchallenged.

Düsseldorf looked much better at the start of the second half and they had a good chance when Charlison Benschop broke down the right and picked out Joel Pohjanpalo in the middle, sadly for the visitors he blazed his chance over.

Just before the hour mark Düsseldorf managed to claw a goal back, Benschop laid the ball off to Sérgio Pinto and the Portuguese midfielder found Pohjanpalo and the Finnish striker finished well into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The promising Düsseldorf comeback was put to a halt in the 71st minute, once more Leipzig opened up Düsseldorf’s defence. Kimmich’s ball over the top saw Omer Damari beat Julian Schauerte to the ball before back-heeling to Yussuf Poulsen and the Dane produced a lovely finish to curl his effort past Rensing.

Twelve minutes from time Forsberg had a golden chance to make it 4-1 to Leipzig, after keeping his balance he was through on goal, Rensing however managed to keep him out with his foot and fortunately the rebound stuck Damari and bounced straight back to Rensing.

Late on Benschop had a chance for Düsseldorf after flicking the ball on with his head he managed to get on the end of a poor headed clearance and his volley narrowly went over.

Leipzig put in a great performance to defeat Düsseldorf and they’ll be hoping to continue their good form and close the gap on the leading pack. Up next for them they’ll travel to Heidenheim and Düsseldorf will need to pick themselves up to show a response against a Darmstadt side on a impressive unbeaten run.

RB LEIPZIG: COLTORTI, RODNEI, TEIGL (DEMME 67′), JUNG, KLOSTERMANN, HIERLÄNDER, KAISER, KIMMICH, DAMARI (REYNA 85′), FORSBERG (KALMÁR 88′), YURARY.

FORTUNA DÜSSELDORF: RENSING, WEBER (ERAT 45′), SCHAUERTE (HALLORAN 80′), BRUNO SOARES, TAH, PINTO, BELLINGHAUSEN, LIENDL (BEBOU 45′), FINK, BENSCHOP, POHJANPALO.

SCORE: 1-0, MIN. 7, RODNEI. 2-0, MIN. 28, KIMMICH. 2-1, MIN. 59, POHJANPALO. 3-1, MIN. 71, POULSEN.

REFEREE: RENÉ ROHDE BOOKED: TAH 25′, FINK 34′, BEBOU 52′, TEIGL 65′, DEMME 84′.

Article for VAVEL Bundesliga.

 

Eintracht Braunschweig 1-1 RB Leipzig: Die Bullen leave it late to snatch a point

This Monday’s Bundesliga 2 action sees a side that was in the Bundesliga last season hosting a side that was in the 3.Liga, those memories are long in the past at this stage of the season and both could really do with a victory.

Both Eintracht Braunschweig and RB Leipzig have struggled since the 2.Bundesliga returned to action, both failing to earn three points in their two games. The hosts Braunschweig were well beaten by Kaiserslautern 2-0, before last weekend saw them narrowly losing to Bochum 3-2 in an entertaining game of football. Going into the game they are in 5th place, however a win is vital as they face being left behind by the leading pack, their currently five points behind Kaiserslautern. RB Leipzig have followed the same path as Bochum, they started the season brilliantly and now find themselves struggling. Leipzig lost to Erzgebirge Aue 2-0 when they returned to action and last week they were beaten by FSV Frankfurt 1-0, they’ll be hoping that it’s third time lucky tonight, they currently sit in 12th place, however they’ll move up to 7th place if they manage to grab an away win.

The first chance of the game came after seven minutes, Leipzig produced some lovely football, Omer Damari coming inside to link up with a team mate and the ball was then chipped over the top to Emil Forsberg, the Swedish striker didn’t strike it well and it was straight at Rafal Gikiewicz.

Braunschweig responded with a chance of their own a few minutes later, the ball was played through to Nik Omladič and his low shot across goal narrowly went wide.

Jan Hochscheidt came close for the hosts after the twenty minute mark, after picking the ball up from a throw in he delightfully breezed past his marker after putting it through his legs, Hochscheidt tried his luck with a curling effort, unfortunately for him Fabio Coltori was able to match the effort.

Hochscheidt then tried the same type of effort on the other side of the area, this time curling his shot round Tim Sebastian, this time he had Coltorti beaten, however it also didn’t have enough curl and flew just wide.

Leipzig kept Braunschweig on their toes when Yussuf Poulsen brilliantly managed to get past Ken Reichel with ease after some lovely skill and his pull back to Forsberg was well blocked from Benjamin Kessel.

The linesman would’ve been very relieved just before the break, Reichel chested a cross down to Hochscheidt, who was standing offside and fortunately for the linesman the Braunschweig midfielder could only fire across goal and wide.

The opener arrived right on half time, Danish forward Emil Berggren fired a great effort at goal after beating a couple of players, the effort cannoned off the crossbar before going out wide to Marc Pfitzner, he excellently whipped in a lovely cross across goal to pick out Berggren who was left unmarked at the back post following his effort. The Dane somehow squeezed his shot in from what seemed to be an impossible angle.

The early stages of the second half didn’t muster up many chances, it took ten minutes for the half to have one. Omladič caused Anthony Jung problems all game long and after the latter pulled on the former’s shirt, Braunschweig had a freekick in a good position. Omladič produced a great delivery and not for the first time he picked out Hochscheidt, unfortunately for the home side he put another chance wide.

The home side came close soon after, Omladič chested down a long ball on the edge of the area and Berggren tried his luck, his effort took a deflection off Sebastian and rolled just wide.

Leipzig where second best for large parts of this game, however they had a glorious chance to get an equaliser when Forsberg whipped in a low cross from the right. Poulsen was the target, however the Dane couldn’t get any contact on the cross and the ball bounced wide.

The away side started to push for an equaliser as the game ticked towards the last ten minutes, a short corner was worked to Joshua Kimmich and he produced a decent low effort from range, which flew just wide.

The late pressure finally produced a breakthrough for Leipzig, a cross came in from the right and Poulsen’s attempted volley fell perfectly for Dominik Kaiser, the captain lead by example and he calmly slotted past Gikiewicz.

Three minutes Leipzig were forced to hang on as Poulsen made a clumsy challenge, which lead to his second yellow. It was a poor decision from the striker, especially as his team just got back into the game.

Braunschweig pushed for a late winner and they came close a couple of times, sadly for their fans not close enough.

Both sides could’ve done with a victory, a draw isn’t ideal for both teams, however a point is always better than none. With the amount of chances Braunschweig had they should’ve won this game. Up next for Braunschweig they travel to face Darmstadt on Friday night, whie Leipzig return home to face Union Berlin on Sunday.