Sixth game, sixth defeat: RB Leipzig is eliminated from the Champions League early after defeat against Aston Villa.
Even after the sixth attempt, RB Leipzig remains without a point in the current Champions League season. The 2:3 (1:1) defeat against Aston Villa sealed the early elimination two game days before the end of the group phase.
Lois Openda (27th) and Christoph Baumgartner (61st) each brought Leipzig back into the game after conceding goals from John McGinn (3rd) and Jhon Duran (52nd). Ross Barkley (82nd) scored Villa’s deserved winning goal. The injury-plagued Leipzig team played well, but had fewer chances and were also lucky with two goals conceded for offside.
Leipzig is out, Villa is at the forefront
With zero points from six games, Leipzig no longer has a mathematical chance of reaching 24th place and thus the playoffs. Aston Villa, trained by European Cup specialist Unai Emery, still has a chance of a place in the top 8 with 13 points and thus direct qualification for the next round.
RB coach Marco Rose once again had to do without seven injured professionals, including top performers such as Xavi Simons and David Raum. In addition, he was unable to use the recovered Xaver Schlager because the Austrian was not registered for the Champions League group phase.
Early shock from McGinn
Leipzig got off to a lively start in front of 40,406 spectators with a finish from Benjamin Sesko in the first minute, but then things quickly came to a halt. Villa’s Matty Cash had plenty of space to cross on the right of the 16, finding Ollie Watkins at the back post. Villa’s center forward deliberately headed back in front of the goal, where McGinn easily shot in to give the visitors the lead.
Villa were then the more active, more dangerous team and also had a great chance through Youri Tielemans, but the Belgian missed from 16 meters. Leipzig were harmless and then benefited from a serious mistake by Emiliano Martinez.
Openda takes advantage of Martinez’s mistake
The visiting goalkeeper could have easily reached a long ball from Nicolas Seiwald, but hesitated when he reached the 16-yard limit as he ran out. Leipzig’s fast attacker Openda pushed into the gap, put the ball in front of his sole and pushed it into the empty goal to equalize.
From then on, Leipzig was better in the game, often driven by the hard-working Antonio Nusa. But Aston Villa also remained dangerous, especially through Watkins, who also scored an offside goal.
Gulacsi too far in front of his goal
For the second half, Rose brought on the injured Kevin Kampls for Amadou Haidara. Kampl was one of only three professional outfield players on the thin Leipzig substitute bench.
With the game evenly balanced, Villa remained the team with the better chances and deservedly took the lead again. After a nice build-up, Duran shot from 23 meters. The ball went over Peter Gulacsi and into the net – Leipzig’s goalkeeper was too far in front of the goal.
Baumgartner is worth seeing
Six minutes later, Duran scored again, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR check due to a slight offside position. Instead, the bell rings shortly afterwards on the other side. Another long ball to Openda, Martinez hesitates again. Openda served Baumgartner at the second post, who hit a remarkable volley with his side into the left corner.
The game remained fast-paced and Villa remained more dangerous – Gulacsi had to stretch against Lucas Digne’s shot. In the 82nd minute, Leipzig was given a really great chance when Pau Torres played a bad pass on their own 16. But Openda ended too harmlessly when it was free-standing.
Punishment followed immediately from Barkley, who scored with a deflected shot from 18 meters. Leipzig threw everything forward again, but couldn’t manage a third goal.
Leipzig now against Frankfurt
RB now has their landmark home game against second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the end of the 14th Bundesliga matchday.
The games against Sporting Lisbon (January 22nd) and Sturm Graz (January 29th) remain in the Champions League group phase in the new year.