Huge win over Dortmund!
BVB had most of the ball in the opening stages, with both teams getting stuck into challenges. RBL kept things tight and looked to hit Dortmund on the counter.
RBL seized the initiative after Mats Hummels was sent off for a last-ditch tackle on Lois Openda. Mohamed Simakan’s shot from distance tested Gregor Kobel before Benjamin Henrichs squandered a good opportunity in the Dortmund box. RBL would take the lead in the 32nd minute after a corner deflected off Ramy Bensebaini’s head and into the Dortmund defender’s own net. BVB started to look threatening towards the end of the first half and Janis Blaswich was forced into making two quickfire saves. In the sixth minute of added time, Niklas Süle levelled things up again.
The RBL boys started the second half well. The pressure eventually paid off, as Christoph Baumgartner converted a rebound to restore our lead (54′). The game was even more tense after that, partly because RBL couldn’t quite manage to get a third. Nico Schlotterbeck blocked a shot from Mo Simakan at the very last second in the 65th minute and Kobel produced another amazing save to deny Baumgartner before the midfielder’s second bite at the cherry hit the post (73′).
Yussuf Poulsen’s goal in the 91st minute seemed to seal the game for RBL, but Niklas Füllkrug got a goal back for Dortmund two minutes later to ensure a nervy end of the game for Leipzig. The boys managed to hang on to secure an important three points away from home.
Bundesliga | Borussia Dortmund – RB Leipzig
LINE-UPS
BVB: Kobel – Schlotterbeck, Hummels, Bensebaini (82′ Malen), Meunier (82′ Reyna) – Can (C), Özcan, Brandt, Reus (71′ Adeyemi), Bynoe-Gittens (19′ Süle) – Füllkrug
RBL: Blaswich – Klostermann (C), Castello Jr., Simakan – Schlager, Haidara (81′ Kampl), Raum, Henrichs – Xavi (75′ Sesko), Baumgartner (75′ Forsberg), Openda (75′ Poulsen)
BVB unused subs: Meyer (GK), Morey, Brunner, Blank, Papadopoulos
RBL unused subs: Gulacsi (GK), Lenz, Bitshiabu, Seiwald, Carvalho
GOALS
0-1 Bensebaini (32′, OG), 1-1 Süle (45+6′), 1-2 Baumgartner (54′), 1-3 Poulsen (90+1′), 2-3 Füllkrug (90+3′)
YELLOW CARDS
Simakan (35′), Xavi (61′), Openda (66′) | Özcan (60′)
RED CARD
Hummels
OFFICIALS
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen)
First assistant: Sascha Thielert (Buchholz i.d. Nordheide)
Second assistant: Lasse Koslowski (Berlin)
Fourth official: Bastian Dankert (Rostock)
Video assistant: Pascal Müller (Freudental)
15th minute: Hummels sees red
- Chaos! LoisOpenda finds himself in space and is bearing down on goal, but the Belgian is scythed down from behind by MatsHummels before he can get a shot off. The referee initially points to the spot and books Hummels, but reverses his decision after a VAR check. The foul is judged to have been committed outside the box, so RBL are given a free-kick instead of a penalty, but Hummels is given a red card.
26th minute: Huge chance for Henrichs
- There’s pinball in the Dortmund box after DavidRaum whips a ball in. It eventually lands at BenjaminHenrichs’ feet, but our number 39’s shot sails over the bar
32nd minute: Leipzig take the lead!
- Mo Simakan goes up for a corner with Ramy Bensebaini. The ball takes a deflection off the Dortmund defender’s head and flies into his own goal to put Leipzig 1-0 up.
45+4th minute: Two sharp saves from Blaswich
- BVB look threatening for the first time just before the break. Janis Blaswich pulls off two fantastic saves in a row to deny Thomas Meunier and Salih Özcan.
45+6th minute: Süle equalises
- After a Dortmund corner, Julian Brandt puts a cross in towards the near post, where Niklas Süle is waiting to poke the ball home with the last kick of the first half.
54th minute: Baumgartner restores our lead
- ChristophBaumgartner drives forward and plays a ball through to Xavi. Kobel gets down quickly to save our number 20’s shot, but Baumi is able to convert the rebound.
66th minute: RBL look to extend their lead
- The tension is rising and the tackles are flying in. Dortmund have looked better since the second RBL goal, but Leipzig have been getting forward again and again in search of a third
73rd minute: So close to a brace for Baumi!
- Baumgartner is looking dangerous here. RBL’s goalscorer is initially denied by Kobel, before his second attempt hits the woodwork.
90+1st minute: Poulsen seals the deal!
- BenjaminSesko and YussufPoulsen break away on the counter. Our number nine dances past Schlotterbeck and smashes the ball past Kobel to give us a two-goal cushion.
90+3rd minute: Füllkrug gets one back
Game on. NiklasFüllkrug heads home powerfully to make the final few minutes interesting.