RB Leipzig won against 1. FC Union in the Bundesliga on Sunday (September 3rd, 2023). That had a lot to do with the newcomers Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko. The Berliners, on the other hand, didn’t just lose a game.
In the 3-0 (0-0) success in Berlin, Leipzig’s Xavi Simons was the player of the game. He scored the lead himself in the 51st minute with a dream goal, then he set up Benjamin Sesko’s goal (85′). And Sesko scored again less than 120 seconds later. Can you do that as a joker?
For Union, on the other hand, it was an afternoon that they would certainly like to forget quickly in Berlin-Köpenick. In their own stadium, 1. FC Union had gone 24 Bundesliga games without defeat, and this series has now come to an end. And then Urs Fischer’s team also ended the game with a man down: Kevin Volland saw the red card after a foul on Mohamed Simakan (64′).
Leipzig has overtaken Union in the table. Both teams now have six points but RB have the better goal difference. But one after anonther.
Xavi Simons first fails and then celebrates
Union’s newcomer Volland caused the first excitement of the game. After a pass by Alex Král, Volland headed the ball ten meters from opponent Simakan. Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich parried for a corner (13th).
Five minutes later, Leipzig had their first chance, and it was a pretty good one: Simons shot from almost 20 yards out, but Berlin goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow steered the ball over the goal with his fingertips.
When Simons finished again at the beginning of the second half, Rönnow was unable to defend himself. After a pass from Benjamin Henrichs, Simons flicked the ball from the edge of the box into the top right corner.
When Xavi Simons and Sesko performed magic
In the final phase, Union increased the risk, Leipzig now had more space, they now had some good opportunities. Goalkeeper Rönnow made strong saves when Dani Olmo (76′) and Henrichs (82′) shots.
In the end, Rönnow still had to get the ball out of the net twice. First, Xavi Simons cleared Sesko with a fine pass, whose shot rolled over the line from the inside of the right post. Then Dani served Olmo Sesko, who this time headed right under the bar.
Union with the wolves, Leipzig at home against Augsburg
1. FC Union Berlin has VfL Wolfsburg in front of them on the coming match day (Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). At the same time, RB Leipzig meets the Fuggerstadt team.