After a late and lucky win, RB Leipzig can once again dream of reaching the round of 16 in the Champions League. Timo Werner gave the Saxons the lead in Glasgow’s Celtic Park deep into the second half on Tuesday (11.10.22), Emil Forsberg increased the score to make it 2-0.
Leipzig moved up to second place in group F with six points from four games. Glasgow is two points further down last.
Goal number 1 was scored by Werner in the 75th minute. Emil Forsberg increased (84th), shortly after a clear penalty had not been called for Glasgow.
Four changes and a furious start
At RB there were four changes compared to the 1-1 draw against Mainz. Only Willi Orban remained in the defensive chain, with David Raum, Joško Gvardiol and Mohamed Simakan replacing Marcel Halstenberg, Abdou Diallo and Benjamin Henrichs. In addition, André Silva pushed Emil Forsberg to the bench at the top.
The hosts started extremely powerful and aggressive right from the start and in the second minute of the game they had the chance to make it 1-0 with a header thanks to the free-standing Daizen Maeda from close range. It took Leipzig ten minutes to get into the game and another ten minutes to take control of the “Paradise”. Scoring chances remained scarce apart from a failed attempt by Timo Werner (22nd).
Multi luck for RB
As a result, the pendulum swung again for Celtic. First Janis Blaswich saved in the Leipzig box, then Matt O’Riley and Maeda hit the post and crossbar of the RB housing in quick succession. Just a little later, Kyogo Furuhashi headed over the crossbar from a completely free position.
Shortly before the break, Christopher Nkunku missed the Bundesliga club’s best opportunity so far. Dominik Szoboszlai put the ball through the Frenchman’s run, who hooked another shot and aimed for the far corner from a half-right position twelve yards out. Glasgow keeper Joe Hart reacted quickly and steered the ball just wide of the box with his foot.
Lots of idle time after the break
After the break, the game flattened out. It wasn’t until the 69th minute that the fans at Celtic Parc saw their first chance to score. Initiated from the left attacking side, Mohamed Simakan put the ball from his right foot to his left with a nice movement, but then he hit the ball powerfully over the home side’s goal.
20 minutes before the regular end of the game, the guests increased the tempo. First, Nkunku keeper Hart tested with a low shot, a little later he went into a running duel with the goalie, which Hart won narrowly and put his hands on the ball a little before Leipzig.
Werner redeems Leipzig
Then finally the long-awaited goal for the guests: David Raum served André Silva, who played back into the penalty area from the baseline on the left. Werner stood perfectly and scored the 1-0 with a header. Celtic answered – with stormy attacks.
But not the Scots could cheer, but again RB. Shortly after Georgios Giakoumakis was saved by Benjamin Henrichs from the penalty spot, which was neither punished nor checked, Werner, after receiving the ball wonderfully, served Emil Forsberg, who had just come on as a substitute, who deliberately shot in from the penalty spot.
RB continues in the Bundesliga with the duel against Hertha BSC, kick-off is on Saturday evening (15.10.22) at 6.30 p.m.