Leipzig is putting pressure on fourth place – Darmstadt on the brink

RB Leipzig remains in the fight for fourth place in the Bundesliga. The Leipzig team won an unchallenged 2-0 (1-0) win against SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday (March 9th, 2024).

An own goal from Thomas Isherwood (3rd minute) got Leipzig on track early on. Christoph Baumgartner (50th) made the preliminary decision shortly after the restart.

Even considering the intense and close game against Real Madrid during the week, RB coach Marco Rose was satisfied with his team’s performance. “We played a good game today. We were patient. We were sharp’” Rose told the sports show. “That was a mandatory task. We have fulfilled it and can now push through something,” said RB defender David Raum in the Sportschau interview.

Darmstadt has been waiting for a win for 18 Bundesliga games and remains the first relegation candidate with just 13 points. Nevertheless, 98 coach Torsten Lieberknecht was combative towards the sports show: “Even if it sounds like a slogan for perseverance: relegation is still possible.”

Changed Darmstadt initially shaky

After the 6-0 debacle against Augsburg the previous week, the guests’ uncertainty was clearly noticeable. Coach Lieberknecht had changed his team in seven positions and the “Liliens” didn’t seem any more solid. Leipzig took the lead with the first attack – with support from Darmstadt.

After Bartol Franjic had almost deflected the ball into his own goal from a wide cross, Isherwood then “finished” the following corner with a header over his own line to make it 0-1. Darmstadt then concentrated entirely on defense and only had their first goal midway through the first half when Peter Gulacsi deflected a Justvan shot around the post (23′).

Leipzig played dominantly, but not with the final pressure towards the goal. Starting eleven debutant Eljif Elmas had the best opportunity with a free kick from 17 meters, but he put it into the wall. After a dominant first half (14:3 shots on goal, 69 percent of ball possession and won duels), Leipzig only led 1:0.

More Leipzig power in the second half

Leipzig approached the second half with much more force. Within the first few minutes, Lois Openda appeared twice in front of the 98 goal (46th, 48th). Both times, goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen was strong in the one-on-one situation. From the hosts’ point of view, substitute Baumgartner made it 2-0 with a powerful shot from 14 meters into the bottom left corner.

In return, Julian Justvan had the goal on his feet (52nd). But Leipzig was now on the move and was getting better and better at finding the way behind the visitors’ defense with deep passes. Driven by the strong central team with Xavi Simons and Xaver Schlager, the hosts created further opportunities. In particular, the unfortunate Openda (8 shots on goal) could have increased his goal account considerably. Although Darmstadt also had one or two finishes, that didn’t change anything about Leipzig’s deserved victory.

Leipzig in Cologne, Darmstadt against Bayern

Leipzig will face the next relegation candidate on matchday 26. On Friday (March 15, 2024, 8:30 p.m.) the Rose team will play against 1. FC Köln. Bottom team Darmstadt 98 welcomes FC Bayern Munich a day later (3:30 p.m.).