RB Leipzig won the duel against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga and regained a place in the Champions League.
Timo Werner (6th) and Emil Forsberg (40th) scored the goals for the hosts in the 2-1 win. Djibril Sow (61st) could only shorten for Frankfurt. RB improved to fourth place with 42 points, Frankfurt remains sixth with 38 points. Marco Rose’s team showed a convincing performance, especially in the first half.
Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner had to do without playmaker Mario Götze, who was not in the squad due to adductor problems. For the same reason, defender Lukas Klostermann was absent from the Leipzig squad.
Leipzig with a lightning start
Leipzig got off to a good start in the duel between two Champions League round of 16 in front of 47,069 spectators in the sold-out arena and put the guests under pressure from the start. After Yussuf Poulsen and Marcel Halstenberg failed because of goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and Emil Forsberg put the ball just wide of the post, Timo Werner did better in the sixth minute.
After a mistake by Tuta in the backcourt, things went very quickly. Forsberg got the ball before the sixteen and sent Werner into the penalty area. The international made it 1-0 with the help of the right inside post.
Sparkling counterattack
With an enormous pace and early pressing, the Saxons continued to stress Eintracht. Even if it stabilized as the game went on, the 2-0 was logical. Forsberg fought for the ball in midfield and initiated a lightning-fast counterattack. On the left Werner went up and away and put the ball ideally on Forsberg with a cross pass into the five. The Swede stormed into the center and easily pushed the ball over the line from six yards out.
Sow hits with a full shot
In the second half, the Hessians were much more aggressive and powerful. That was rewarded in the 61st minute. The Leipzigers briefly lost the overview during an attack in the backcourt and were unsorted in front of the goal. Djibril Sow dropped the ball at his feet after a pass from Tuta, and Tuta hammered the ball with a powerful shot up into the left corner.
In the final phase it went back and forth. Both teams had chances, Frankfurt pressed for equalization, Leipzig remained dangerous on the counterattack. In the end, the Saxons brought victory over time.
Leipzig as a guest in Dortmund
At the start of the 23rd matchday, Leipzig is a guest in Dortmund for the top game (Friday, March 3rd, 2023 at 8.30 p.m.). Frankfurt has to travel to Wolfsburg two days later (5.30 p.m.).