RBL beat Schalke 4-2 on final day

RB Leipzig ended the Bundesliga season with three points and a win over Schalke 04, thanks to a 4-2 victory at the Red Bull Arena on matchday 34. The result saw relegation confirmed for our visitors.

Marco Rose’s side enjoyed a perfect start when Konrad Laimer opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Ørjan Nyland’s long ball found Dani Olmo, who got to the byline and crossed towards Christopher Nkunku. Ralf Fährmann deflected the ball into the path of our number 27, who rolled the ball into the back of the net. Nkunku and Olmo linked up again soon after, with Nkunku dancing between defenders to slot home and double the lead (19’).

Marcin Kaminski pulled one back for the visitor when he headed in from a corner (29’), before Rodrigo Zalazar saw a shot saved (33’) and a header go wide (36’). At the other end, Fährmann saved Doudou Haidara’s effort from the edge of the area (39’) and the two sides went into the break with the scores at 2-1.

S04 enjoyed a good start to the second half when RBL made a mistake in their own area and Bülter hit the post. Willi Orbán attempted to clear the rebound but turned the ball into his own goal and levelled the game (49’). Leipzig responded well and Halstenberg and Werner forced Fährmann into more saves (53’).

With the visitors pushing for a winner, RBL were able to counter effectively. Nkunku found Yussuf Poulsen, who restored the lead late on (81’). In the 94th minute, Nkunku lobbed the goalkeeper to double his tally for the day. It was his 16th goal of the season, seeing him take the top scorer award alongside Werder’s Niclas Füllkrug.

Tabelle

Match information:

RB Leipzig:
Nyland – Simakan, Orbán (C), Olmo, Haidara (46′ Kampl), Forsberg (68′ Sozobszlai), Werner (61′ Poulsen), Klostermann, Nkunku, Halstenberg (61′ Raum), Laimer (61′ Schlager), Simakan

Substitutes: Blaswich – Henrichs, Poulsen, Szoboszlai, Raum, Schlager, Silva, Diallo, Henrichs Kampl

Schalke 04:
Fährmann – van den Berg, Latza (C, 75′ Karaman), Zalazar (57′ Mohr), Bülter, Drexler, Brunner, Kral, Kaminski, Polter, Matriciani (70′ Ouwejan)

Substitutes: Schwolow – Frey, Greiml, Karaman, Mohr, Ouwejan, Skarke, Tauer, Yoshida

REFEREE:
Harm Osmers (Hannover)

GOALS:
0-1 Laimer (10′), 0-2 Nkunku (19′), 1-2 Kaminski (28′), 2-2 Orbán (OG, 49′), 3-2 Poulsen (82′), 4-2 Nkunku (95′)

YELLOW CARDS:
Haidara (8th of season), Nkunku (4th) | Brunner (6th), Polter (3rd)

First half highlights:

1ST MINUTE:

Schalke get us underway in our final league game of the season.

3RD MINUTE:

First good chance! RBL win the ball and break quickly and Forbserg plays in Laimer. He looks to play the ball across goal to Werner, who would have had the goal at his mercy, but he couldn’t make contact.

8TH MINUTE:

Both teams are going for it here in the Leipzig sun.

10TH MINUTE, GOOOAAAAL FOR RBL:

There’s the lead! Nyland sends a long ball towards Dani Olmo, who brings the ball down well and gets to the byline before crossing towards Nkunku. Fährmann deflects the cross into the patch of Konrad Laimer, who taps home.

19TH MINUTE, GOOOAAAL FOR RBL:

Christopher Nkunku doubles the lead! He plays a one two with Olmo, dances round a number of defenders and slots into the bottom corner.

23RD MINUTE:

Schalke are pressing high and look for their way back into the game

26TH MINUTE:

A long ball ahead sees Christo through on goal, but Kaminski gets a foot in at the last minute.

28TH MINUTE, GOAL FOR SCHALKE:

Zalazar puts a corner into the six yard box and Kaminski gets there ahead of Nyland to head in.

33RD MINUTE:

S04 are looking more lively and almost equalise, but Nyland saves a Zalazar effort at the front post.

36TH MINUTE:

Matriciani crosses from the left and Zalazar heads just wide of the far post.

45TH MINUTE:

RBL go close to a third. Marcel Halstenberg gets into the box through the middle and looks left to Christo, but he seems to be blocked off by a Schalke defender. No penalty!

HALF TIME:

RBL take a lead into the break, but the visitors are fighting hard here.

First half in photos

Second half highlights:

46TH MINUTE:

Kevin Kampl replaces Haidara for the second half.

49TH MINUTE, GOAL FOR SCHALKE:

The visitors are level. They press high and Drexler wins the ball in the area. Bülter’s shot rebounds off the post and Willi Orbán puts it into his own net while trying to clear.

52ND MINUTE:

Leipzig respond well and Halstenberg forces Fährmann into a good save.

53RD MINUTE:

Timo Werner tries a left-footed effort towards the far post, but Fährmann saves.

67TH MINUTE:

RBL link up through two substitutes down the left. David Raum finds Yussuf Poulsenbut Fährmann saves again.

77TH MINUTE:

S04 are pushing for an all-important goal and leaving themselves open for the counter

82ND MINUTE, GOOOOAAAAALL FOR RBL:

RBL take the lead! Christo breaks through down the left and finds Poulsen in the middle. He controls the ball and finishes right-footed into the back of the net.

85TH MINUTE:

Nkunku gets through one-on-one and his shot beats Fährmann, but it hits the post.

95TH MINUTE, GOOOOAAAAAL FOR RBL

Nkunku lobs the goalkeeper for his second goal of the day and 16th of the season!

FULL TIME:

Three points! RBL sign out from the 2022/23 Bundesliga with a win at home.