26th matchday
Fürth (dpa) – After the irresistible show of his overheated Leipzig Goals Express, coach Domenico Tedesco gave his players a cool five-minute high. RB stormed through the furious 6: 1 (4: 1) at bottom SpVgg Greuther Fürth in fourth place and basically shot the Franconians back into the second division.
Leipzig is now level on points with SC Freiburg, but has a significantly better goal difference than Breisgau. “The self-confidence is good, we also play really great football,” said offensive player Emil Forsberg. “You could see that every player was having fun.”
With only 14 points after 26 match days, the Fürth team have to intensify their plans for the lower house. Only in the 2012/13 season did they lose that much at home in the Bundesliga against Borussia Dortmund (1:6). Leipzig, on the other hand, remains unbeaten in their 23rd Bundesliga game against a promoted team.
Fürths Seguin: “It was a total failure”
“It was a bitter day today,” admitted Fürth’s midfielder Paul Seguin. “I’m really at a loss for words. That was a total failure today.”
In front of 9418 spectators, Jamie Leweling’s Fürther opening goal in the 4th minute seemed like a provocation to the Leipzig team, who were initially taken by surprise. Andre Silva (17th), Forsberg (32nd), Konrad Laimer (35th) and Benjamin Henrichs (45th) quickly punished helpless Franks on the defensive in the first half.
Mohamed Simakan (59th) and the always dangerous Christopher Nkunku with his 15th goal of the season (69th) made the Fürth debacle perfect. RB only managed six goals abroad in the elite class in 2017/18 at Hertha BSC (6: 2).
Reformed RB-Elf initially unsorted
The people of Leipzig were even surprised at first by the bold Fürth team. The Franconians, with the courage of six previously unbeaten home games, initially put the guests under heavy pressure in the courageous 4-3-3 system. Leweling then slipped past Amadou Haidara on the right, leaving a stunned Josko Gvardiol, slipped, got back up and hit the near corner for the lead.
Leipzig needed a few minutes to sort itself out. For a short time, coach Domenico Tedesco had to do without defender Lukas Klostermann, as well as attacking player Dani Olmo and midfielder Kevin Kampl. The reorganized Leipzig team needed some warm-up time. Angelino then aimed for Silva on the left, the Portugal international getting through Nick Viergever and heading in to level.
Fürth’s defense breaks apart
From here on, RB had control against a holey Fürth defensive. First, Forsberg keeper Andreas Linde looked bad with his goal from a distance, then Leipzig put in a turbo counterattack: Laimer completed the double strike at lightning speed via the stations Silva and Nkunku.
Fürth was only an astonished observer. Nkunku danced around his opponents in the box and brought Angelino into play. Henrichs, who stormed into the penalty area from the back area, used the Spaniard’s cross to decide the game after just 45 minutes.
RB no longer had to press the gas pedal after the change of sides, ball control was the priority. Simakan and Nkunku made the class difference clear with their hits. To make matters worse, Maximilian Bauer from Fürth had to be replaced bleeding after a goal by Yussuf Poulsen.