This year Fernandes saves a penalty
©IMAGO
RB Leipzig has overcome its small crisis in results and celebrated success again after three games without a win. The Saxons deservedly defeated promoted team Hamburger SV 2-1 (1-1) after falling behind and thus stayed in touch with the top four in the league. At the end of the 24th matchday in the Bundesliga, the gap between fifth-placed Leipzig and the previously victorious Stuttgart is two points.
HSV, which didn’t do enough to defend itself against bankruptcy in the second half, suffered its first defeat at home since the end of October after seven games without defeat at the Volksparkstadion. The Hanseatic League failed to increase the gap to the relegation zone. After a weekend in which most of the competition scored points, HSV is eleventh, four points clear of the relegation spot.
In front of 57,000 spectators in the sold-out Volksparkstadion, Fábio Vieira (22nd minute) initially gave HSV the lead. Rômulo (36th) with a dream goal and Yan Diomande (50th) made the Saxons’ away win perfect. Romulo was one of the most striking RB professionals: The Brazilian prepared the guests’ second goal and missed a hand penalty in the 62nd minute.
The people of Leipzig were certainly warned: the hosts last lost in the league against Wolfsburg at the end of October. This was followed by, among other things, a draw against FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund and a win against VfB Stuttgart.
And HSV made it clear that it did not want to change anything about the difficult situation for top teams. First Damion Downs failed with his shot (11th) from the turn, then Vieira did better. The Portuguese initiated an attack himself, then received the pass in the RB penalty area a few passes later and took the lead with his fourth goal of the season with a low shot through the legs of visiting goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt.
Bitter for HSV in between: Captain Nicolás Capaldo had to be replaced injured after almost 20 minutes.
In the duel between the currently youngest Bundesliga coaches in HSV coach Merlin Polzin (35 years old) and RB coach Ole Werner (37), Polzin started without ex-Leipzig player Yussuf Poulsen, who was frequently injured this season and recently recovered and who was under contract in Leipzig for a total of twelve years.
The Dane, who came on as a substitute in the 67th minute, had to watch his former club come back furiously. After a pass in the penalty area, Rômulo prevailed against the young HSV defense chief Luka Vuskovic and, with his back to the goal and under pressure with his heel, scored the equalizer beautifully. Before the half-time break, Leipzig became more and more active and kept the HSV defense busy.
The second half began with Leipzig taking the lead. After a bad pass from goalscorer Vieira, the ball landed via Rômulo to Diomande, who beat several HSV defenders while dribbling and took the lead.
A little later, Nicolai Remberg accidentally touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area. Referee Bastian Dankert quickly decided on a hand penalty. But Rômulo was denied by HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes and missed his third goal.
HSV will be in demand again on Wednesday (8:30 p.m./Sky). Then the Hanseatic League hosts the next top club for a catch-up game in Champions League participants Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
