It was an extremely disappointing afternoon in Stuttgart for RB Leipzig.
The home team’s first shot came after seven minutes through Chris Führich from 20 yards out, one of several efforts from distance by the hosts. Leipzig struggled to get going and gave away a penalty in the 22nd minute. Mohamed Simakan was penalised for a handball from a corner and Enzo Millot converted from the spot. Deniz Undav finished off a clinical counter-attack eight minutes later for 2-0.
RBL quickly got one back thanks to Benjamin Sesko’sheader from David Raum’scorner (32’). Janis Blaswich then denied Maximilian Mittelstädt, before Jamie Leweling missed a golden chance on the stroke of half time.
The second half began poorly from a Leipzig perspective. Leweling toe-poked home from a few yards out to make it 3-1. Lois Openda’s stunning curling effort pulled one back (55’), however Undav soonheaded in to restoreVfB’stwo-goal lead.The striker got his hat-trick with 15 minutes left to play, the final goal of the game.
The only real positive from the trip to Stuttgart was captain Willi Orban’s return from injury. The centre-back came off the bench in the closing stages.
Bundesliga | VfB Stuttgart – RB Leipzig
LINE-UPS
VfB: Nübel – Anton (C), Vagnoman (87′ Stergiou), Stiller, Mittelstädt, Millot (84′ Di Benedetto), Lewelling (84′ Massimo), Zagadou, Undav (87′ Stenzel), Führich (90′ Milosevic), Rouault
RBL: Blaswich – Simakan (85′ Orban), Klostermann (C), Castello Jr., Raum – Seiwald (67′ Kampl), Schlager (75′ Elmas) – Baumgartner (67′ Henrichs), Olmo (75′ Poulsen) – Openda, Sesko
VfB unused subs: Bredlow (GK), Haraguchi, Paula, Cisse
RBL unused subs: Gulacsi (GK) – Lenz, Bitshiabu, Jatta
GOALS
1-0 Millot (25′ – penalty), 2-0 Undav (30′), 2-1 Sesko (32′), 3-1 Lewelling (48′), 3-2 Openda (55′), 4-2 Undav (57′), 5-2 Undav (75′)
YELLOW CARDS
Anton (69′) | Schlager (5′), Simakan (16′), Baumgartner (43′), Raum (79′)
OFFICIALS
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen)
First assistant: Sascha Thielert (Buchholz)
Second assistant: Lasse Koslowski (Berlin)
Fourth official: Florian Badstübner (Nürnberg)
VAR: Dr. Felix Brych (München)
Attendance
52,100 at the MHP Arena
7th MINUTE: FÜHRICH from distance
- Chris Führich takes aim from 20 yards out following a VfB corner. Janis Blaswich gets down low to comfortably collect the shot.
22nd MINUTE: MILLOT opens the scoring from the spot
- The ball hits Mo Simakan on the hand from a Stuttgart header in the box and Sven Jablonski consults VAR. He awards a penalty and Enzo Millot sends Blaswich the wrong way from the spot.
30th MINUTE: UNDAV doubles vfb’s lead
- Stuttgart get it forward quickly after winning back possession. David Raum’s touch unfortunately falls to Deniz Undav, who takes it first time and places the shot perfectly into the bottom corner.
32nd MINUTE: SESKO HEADS in
- The perfect response! Benjamin Sesko has a free header from David Raum’s corner and makes no mistake from a few yards out.
37th MINUTE: BLASWICH denies mittelstädt
- Maximilian Mittelstädt has VfB’s next attempt, firing towards goal on his left foot from around 18 yards out. Janis Blaswich gathers the tricky shot at the second time.
45th minute: LEWELING just wide
- A big chance for VfB in the third minute of time added on. Lukas Klostermann’s clearance lands perfectly for Jamie Leweling, however he drags his effort just wide from a great position.
48th MINUTE: LEWELING stabs home
The worst possible start to the second half for RBL. Josha Vagnoman heads Führich’s cross towards goal and Leweling stabs it home with his studs.
55th MINUTE: a stunner from openda
What a goal! RBL break and Lois Openda curls one past Nübel into the far corner. Game on!
57th MINUTE: UNDAV heads home
Stuttgart restore their two-goal lead. Undav’s header at the near post flies home for his second of the afternoon.
75th MINUTE: UNDAV gets his hat-trick
A quickly taken free-kick gets Undav in behind. His first shot is saved by Blaswich, but the striker converts the rebound.