RB Leipzig has consolidated its position in the Champions League places in the Bundesliga with a home win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Gladbach’s fans used the game to protest against Leipzig – and to criticize Max Eberl.
With the 3-0 (0-0), Leipzig remains third in the table, Gladbach is still stuck in the middle of the table. Timo Werner (58th minute), Emil Forsberg (71st) and Joško Gvardiol (80th) scored the goals. “We also had tough phases against a deep opponent and we were rewarded in the end,” said Leipzig coach Marco Rose after the game on the sports show microphone.
Gladbach with good chances, Pléa fails from the point
Leipzig was stronger at the beginning, but Gladbach had chances: Florian Neuhaus shot wide after a counterattack (8′), Marcus Thuram’s shot from a tight angle was parried by Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich (11′). A mistake by Willi Orban gave Thuram a great chance, but he shot over the target free in front of the goal (34th).
The best chance, however, was missed by Alassane Pléa shortly after the break, who was denied a penalty by Blaswich (53). David Raum had previously fouled Jonas Hofmann, referee Matthias Jöllenbeck gave the penalty according to the pictures.
Leipzig clear winner in the end
That took revenge a little later: Benjamin Henrichs initiated a Leipzig attack by winning the ball, Timo Werner shot the ball from 15 meters to the top right corner (58th).
The preliminary decision came in the 71st minute: Pléa fouled Leipzig’s Haidara in the penalty area, and Emil Forsberg scored the penalty in the right corner to make it 2-0. Youssuf Poulsen hit the bar in the 80th minute and seconds later Joško Gvardiol made it 3-0 with a thigh from a corner.
Eberl contradicts criticism from Gladbach fans
For sports director Max Eberl, the game was the first against his former employer Borussia Mönchengladbach. “I made no secret of the fact that I was ill. If this topic is then simply negated and it is simply summarized as a change from Gladbach to Leipzig, it’s just wrong.”Eberl said on “Sky” and defended himself against criticism from Gladbach fans that they were looking for a reason for the change.
Eberl said of the criticism: “It happens from people who put others in their crosshairs, run through the cities with iron bars and light fires. No further comments are needed.”
Max Eberl took up his new position as Leipzig sports director in December.
The Gladbach ultra group “Sottocultura” wrote before the game on their website: “This game is particularly explosive because a person without character who, until not too long ago, was loudly putting forward these arguments (criticism of Leipzig, editor’s note) has now switched to the evil side of football.”
Eberl had criticized Leipzig during his time in Gladbach, for example the numerous changes from Salzburg. Parts of Gladbach’s followers then presented banners against Eberl in Leipzig. “Megalomania, lies & fake tears, aren’t you ashamed to look in the mirror?”it said on one.
As a “bull pig” – in relation to Leipzig’s financier Red Bull – Eberl was described on another poster. Also “Miracle healing by Red Bull. When lying becomes a business model” was to read. In the first 19 minutes, Gladbach’s fans protested loudly with whistles against RB Leipzig.
Leipzig now against Man City, then in Bochum – Gladbach against Bremen
RB Leipzig can play in the round of 16 of the Champions League before everyday league work resumes Manchester City make it into the quarter-finals (Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:00 p.m.). The first leg ended 1:1.
On the 25th matchday, the Saxons are then challenged away in Bochum (Saturday, March 18th, 2023 at 3.30 p.m.). Mönchengladbach welcomes SV Werder Bremen a day earlier (8.30 p.m.).