Europe League
First very confidently, then with a bit of trembling: runners-up RB Leipzig made it through to the round of 16 in the Europa League thanks to their own strong nerves. Coach Domenico Tedesco’s team won the second leg of the second leg on Thursday evening at Real Sociedad, who had been frighteningly harmless for a long time, 3-1 (1-0). The first leg a week ago was 2-2.
Defense chief Willi Orban gave the fourth-placed Bundesliga team the lead after André Silva missed a penalty (39th minute). After just under an hour, Silva (59th) scored himself in front of around 35,000 fans at the Estadio Anoeta. Martín Zubimendi (67′) created excitement with a goal, before substitute Emil Forsberg (89′) made the decision with a converted hand penalty.
RB had to attribute the shaking minutes to himself. Tedesco’s team, who had changed five positions compared to 6-1 last Sunday, struggled to score goals this time. RB determined what happened on the pitch in San Sebastián almost at will. The home fans, to whom captain Mikel Oyarzabal appealed again after the league defeat in the Baskenderby at the weekend (0:4 at Athletic Bilbao), were sometimes silent. RB did not allow mood lifters for a long time.
Instead, the guests quickly became dangerous: In the fourth minute, however, Lukas Klostermann failed at Mathew Ryan. A good five minutes later, the Australian cleared the Spaniards’ goal against Kevin Kampl. Both were among the fresh forces in the RB team. The third big chance was missed by the later goalscorer Orban (19th) against Ryan.
After a great pass from Dani Olmo, the 29-year-old goalkeeper – actually number two – came out of his box too late and knocked Christopher Nkunku off his feet in the six-yard box. Silva started under the whistles of the Real fans. And he missed, Ryan dived into the right corner of the goalkeeper – unfortunately he let the ball bounce off in such a way that it rolled diagonally in front of the goal. Orban sprinted away from everyone and scored to make it 1-0.
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The lead was well deserved, just not enough with 11:1 degrees in the entire first half from Leipzig’s point of view. “We control the game and are good in all phases. Good standards, play well at the back, good transition moments, but the goals are missing,” said RB Leipzig’s technical director, Christopher Vivell, on the “RTL +” station during the break.
The game didn’t change much after the break. Despite being behind, the Spaniards still looked quite restrained. In any case, it could be all right for the people of Leipzig. They continued to pose a threat in the 55th minute with Olmo’s powerful long-range shot, which Ryan cleared for a corner. The home keeper was powerless when Silva scored a goal from 15 meters into the corner.
But then the Spaniards suddenly scored a goal, recognized by the video referee after much trepidation. And RB suddenly found themselves exposed to unnecessary stress in the final stages three days before the league game at VfL Bochum, but thanks to the converted Forsberg penalty, they could look forward to the draw this Friday.
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