Emil Forsberg helps Leipzig to 3-1 victory against Hoffenheim

A perfect ending for Emil!

On matchday 15 of the Bundesliga season, RB Leipzig defeated TSG Hoffenheim 3-1 to secure three vital points in the race for the top four.

Leipzig started the game on the front foot, with Yussuf Poulsen (2′) and Xavi (13′, 17′) having early chances. Hoffenheim started to apply some pressure, before Lukas Klostermann took advantage of a scrappy situation to put us ahead (34′). Hoffenheim would equalise through Ozan Kabak’s header in the 42nd minute, and the scores were level as both sides headed into the dressing rooms at half time.

Xavi hit the post right at the start of the second half, before Emil Forsberg raised the roof with his goal in the 66th minute. Mo Simakan put the icing on the cake by scoring our third with just over 15 minutes to go, as he pounced on a rebound from David Raum’s corner to give us a two-goal lead (74′). On his final home appearance for RBL, Emil was the hero!

Bundesliga | RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim

Line-ups

RBL: Blaswich – Henrichs, Klostermann, Simakan (83′ Castello Jr.), Raum – Haidara (58′ Kampl), Schlager – Baumgartner (66′ Forsberg), Xavi (83′ Carvalho) – Openda (83′ Šeško), Poulsen (C)

TSG: Baumann – Kabak (75′ Akpoguma), Brooks, Vogt – Kadeřábek (90′ Nsoki), Stach (75′ Bischof), Skov (46′ Grillitsch) – Prömel, Kramarić – Bebou (69′ Beier), Bülter

RBL unused subs: Gulácsi (GK) – Lenz, Werner, Seiwald

TSG unused subs: Philipp (GK) – Becker, Tohumcu, Szalai

Goals

1-0 Klostermann (34′), 1-1 Kabak (42′), 2-1 Forsberg (70′), 3-1 Simakan (74′)

Yellow cards

Haidara (40′), Xavi (62′), Klostermann (80′) | Ozan Kabak (62′), Grillitsch (90+3′)

Officials

Referee: Robert Schröder (Hannover)
First assistant: Norbert Grudzinski (Hamburg)
Second assistant: Jan Clemens Neitzel-Petersen (Norderstedt)
Fourth official: Florian Badstübner (Nürnberg)
Video assistant: Benjamin Brand (Schwebheim)
VAR assistant: Christof Günsch (Darmstadt)

Attendance

42,946 at the Red Bull Arena

2nd minute: Poulsen heads over

RBL have the first big chance of the game. A corner is whipped in towards the six-yard box, where YussufPoulsen. Our number 9 connects well with the ball, but it goes just over the bar.

17th minute: Baumann denies Xavi

AmadouHaidara lays the ball off to Xavi, who cuts inside and tries to curl it into the top right corner. Hoffenheim keeper OliverBaumann is alert to the danger and parries the ball to safety.

25th minute: Right place, right time

Hoffenheim have two chances in quick succession. IlhasBebou drives into the box and fires just wide, before JanisBlaswich makes a save to deny AndrejKramaric.

34th minute: Klostermann breaks the deadlock!

RBL take the lead! A dangerous-looking free-kick is whipped into the box and YussufPoulsen heads goalwards. The ball deflects off a Hoffenheim player into the path of MoSimakan. Our defender misses, but then the ball falls to an unmarked LukasKlostermann, who pokes home to put us in front!

42nd minute: Kabak with the equaliser

Another goal from a set-piece, but this time it’s the visitors’ turn. Janis Blaswich comes to claim a RobertSkov free-kick, but he’s beaten to the ball by OzanKabak, who heads into the empty net to level things up again.

50th minute: Xavi hits the post!

Xavi picks up the ball on the edge of the box and shapes to curl it into the corner, but it crashes off the post and the scores stay level!

66th minute: Forsberg enters the fray

Emil Forsberg is brought on to a standing ovation from the Leipzig fans. Our number 10 should help us to turn this game around.

70th minute: Forsberg scores!

Emil Forsberg has only just come on and he’s made it 2-1! Lois Openda gives the ball to the Swede on the right hand side of the box. He controls it wonderfully, before smashing it past Baumann to put us back in front!

74th minute: Simakan adds another!

You can’t keep Emil out of the game! David Raum whips a corner in, which Forsberg flicks on. Baumann reacts brilliantly to keep his effort out, but Mohamed Simakan is there to convert the rebound and give us a two-goal cushion.

90 +3rd minute: Grillitsch is sent off… or is he?

Florian Grillitsch tackles Yussuf Poulsen from behind and is initially shown a red card by the referee. However, he reverses his decision after consulting the pitchside monitor and books the midfielder instead.