Back to winning ways!
RB Leipzig secured a confident 2-0 (1-0) home win against 1. FC Union Berlin on the 20th Bundesliga matchday on Sunday.
RBL started with both Peter Gulacsi and Willi Orban in the lineup, both of whom celebrated their starting eleven comeback in the Bundesliga. The RB Leipzig took an early lead on a powerful tight-angle shot from Lois Openda after a loose ball in the box from a free kick in the 11th minute. That’s three straight matches with a goal for Openda, the first time he’s done that in his RB Leipzig career.
Both Lois (18′) and Benjamin Sesko (45 + 2′) had great chances to double the lead if not for a strong performance for Union goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow. So despite a strong first-half performance RBL went into the break holding a narrow 1-0 lead.
That scoreline didn’t last for long, though. Shortly after the restart, Sesko headed in from a free kick assist from David Raum to make it 2-0 in the 48th minute. He found the back of the net again shortly after in the 57th minute, but this time his effort was ruled out from an offside in the buildup –– despite some world-class buildup from Dani Olmo.
After 73 minutes, Union captain Christopher Trimmel was shown a red card after a hard foul against David Raum, leading to a confident, dominant performance for RBL. In the final moments, Xavi Simons nearly iced the performance with a superb solo goal, but his shot was saved by Schwolow in the 92nd minute.
Bundesliga | RB Leipzig – 1. FC Union Berlin
Lineups
RBL: Gulacsi – Henrichs, Klostermann, Orban (C, 70. Castello Jr.), Raum (85. Bitshiabu) – Kampl (85. Seiwald), Schlager – Olmo (77. Elmas), Xavi – Openda (77. Poulsen), Sesko
FCU: Schwolow – Knoche, Vogt, Doekhi – Trimmel (C), Tousart (58. Khedira), Gosens – Schäfer (58. Laidouni), Haberer (58. Volland) – Vertessen (75. Bedia), Hollerbach (75. Aaronson)
RBL reserves: Blaswich – Lenz, Baumgartner, Jatta
FCU reserves: Busk – Jaeckel, Kaufmann, Ogbemudia
Goals
1:0 Lois Openda (11.), 2:0 Benjamin Sesko (48.)
Yellow Cards
Kevin Kampl (3.) | Lucas Tousart (2.), Benedict Hollerbach (2.)
Red Card
Christopher Trimmel (73. Minute, serious foul play)
Referees
First Referee: Marco Fritz (Korb)
First Assistant: Dominik Schaal (Tübingen)
Second Assistant: Marcel Pelgrim (Hamminkeln-Loikum)
Fourth Official: Wolfgang Haslberger (St. Wolfgang)
Video Assistant: Guido Winkmann (Kerken)
Attendance
44.032 in the Red Bull Arena
7th Minute: Free kick chance for RBL
After a foul on Dani Olmo, RBL gets a free kick on the right side of the penalty area. David Raum goes for goal but it’s blocked by the Union Berlin wall.
11th Minute: GOOOAL for Openda!
RBL takes a deserved after a dominant opening phase. After a free kick, Benjamin Henrichs‘ shot from a central position was blocked, but then Lois Openda smashed home from a tight angle from the right side of goal.
18th Minute: Openda versus Schwolow
The next really great chance for RBL: Dani Olmo finds Lois Openda in the penalty area with an incisive through ball. The RBL forward turns and aims at the left corner, but Union keeper Alexander Schwolow makes a strong save to keep the scoreline at 1-0. The flag goes up, but the replay shows: it was not offside! If the ball had gone in, it would be 2-0.
31st Minute: Gulacsi called into action
A first test for Peter Gulacsi comes from Berlin winter signing Yorbe Vertessen, who heads the ball toward goal after getting a head on a cross from the left side, but Peter takes care of it comfortably.
43rd Minute: Xavi takes off
Xavi cuts in from the left, drives into the box, beats his opponent and shoots towards the right corner. However, Alexander Schwolow keeps the scoreline where it is.
45th Minute +2: Huge chance for Sesko!
Benjamin Sesko rises highest to meet the ball in the air coming off a corner kick. It’s powerful and well-placed, but a great save from Union goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow keeps the score from going to 2-0.
48th Minute: GOOAAL for Sesko!
Perfect start to the second half! Free kick from the left side, David Raum brings the ball into the penalty area, Benjamin Sesko gets free to head the ball and plants it in the bottom left corner. It’s 2-0 for RBL!
53rd Minute: Olmo tests Schwolow
If the visiting keeper wasn’t in such good form, this game would have been decided long ago. Great, powerful shot from the right side by Dani Olmo, but a fingertip save from Schwolow pushes the ball past the goalpost.
57th Minute: Offside goal for Sesko!
Just like the first leg vs the Iron Men, it seems BenjaminSesko notches a brace, but this time the goal didn’t count –– a pity for the world-class buildup from Dani Olmo, who rabona crossed in for Sesko to head in. The ball hits the net, but unfortunately the video review calls back the goal for an offside in the buildup.
70th Minute: Applause for Willi Orban
After 70 minutes, Willi Orban gets a deserved ovation from the crowd as Castello Jr. comes into the game to replace him. Good return to the starting lineup for our captain!
73rd Minute: Trimmel sent off!
Referee Marco Fritz draws the red card against Christopher Trimmel. The Union captain hits David Raum with his open sole on the ankle during his tackle and is consequently sent off the pitch.
85th Minute: Another round of applause
Two final changes for RBL: David Raum and Kevin Kampl are out, replaced by El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Nicolas Seiwald, all to the sound of rapturous applause from the stands.
90th Minute +2: Xavi again!
That would have been the crowning achievement: Xavi tries again from the left in the penalty area, but Schwolow caps off his incredible display by pushing the powerful effort onto the bar.