Bundesliga, 32nd matchday
Despite being outnumbered, the Saxons can’t do anything at Borussia and receive a setback in the fight for the Champions League places. Bayer Leverkusen, on the other hand, has its sights set on the premier class.
RB Leipzig had certainly imagined things differently: coach Domenico Tedesco’s team suffered a bitter 1: 3 (1: 2) defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Monday and thus missed the leap back into the top 4 of the Bundesliga. Breel Embolo (17′) and Jonas Hofmann with a brace (45′ + 2′, 77′) ensured Gladbach’s success, Christopher Nkunku (36′) only scored the temporary equalizer for the guests.
After Gladbach’s Nico Elvedi (64th, emergency brake) was sent off, Leipzig played in the majority for almost half an hour, but failed again and again due to the outstanding VfL goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Leipzig remains fifth in the league with 54 points, one point behind SC Freiburg.
Leipzig seemed listless and unimaginative
While a loud whistle concert sounded in protest against the RB construct when Leipzig possessed the ball, there was often confusion on the pitch. The lead came out of nowhere: with luck, the ball landed at Embolo, who stayed ice cold in front of Peter Gulacsi. It was the sixth goal for the Swiss in the second half of the season, five of them in the last six Bundesliga games.
However, there was hardly any mood, the weak season and the most recent derby defeat left their mark on the Borussia fans. “Fightless, willless, characterless – hopefully we’ll get rid of the mercenaries among you soon,” read one banner. However, in this phase it was rather the people of Leipzig who seemed listless and unimaginative.
Hofmann made everything clear
But RB also had the first chance to score: Nkunku skillfully converted a nice pass from Andre Silva. But Gladbach answered before the break: Embolo sent Hofmann, who ripped into the left corner.
After the break, Leipzig stepped up a gear. Yann Sommer deflected a header from Silva onto the crossbar (55′). After the red card because of an emergency brake against Elvedi almost only the guests played – but Hofmann completed one of the few relief attacks to 3:1.
Leverkusen very easy against Frankfurt
In the parallel game, Bayer Leverkusen had no trouble with Eintracht Frankfurt. Paulinho (18th) and Patrik Schick (51st) scored to make it 2-0 (1-0). The Werkself remain third with 58 points and are fully on course for the Champions League. Frankfurt remained harmless three days before the semi-final second leg in the Europa League against West Ham United. “We have to show a different face. A few players are fresh again,” said veteran Makoto Hasebe.
Scored again: Patrick Schick (centre) celebrates his goal with his teammates. (Source: dpa)
Leverkusen dominated the game in front of 26,492 spectators in the BayArena without creating any chances in the first quarter of an hour. In contrast to many other games this season, the Rhinelanders used the first opportunity. After a nice outside instep pass from winger Moussa Diaby, Paulinho pushed in from close range.
The goal in no way boosted the uneventful encounter. Frankfurt still didn’t do anything for the game, the still superior Bayer didn’t create any further chances at first. The supposed 2-0 from Schick (34th) was withdrawn after video evidence because of an offside position.
Azmoun unlucky
Shortly before the break, Robert Andrich only hit the side netting. Jens Hauge shot the only Frankfurt goal past the goal of unemployed Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
After the break, Schick’s renewed goal celebration was initially interrupted after a nice pass from the conspicuous Diaby – after video evidence, referee Benjamin Cortus (Röthenbach) awarded the goal. Frankfurt remained in energy-saving mode, Leverkusen didn’t have to do more than necessary until the end. The strong Azmoun failed with a long-range shot by Trapp (71st).