What a turnaround! Matchday 2 in the Bundesliga saw RB Leipzig come back from trailing VfB Stuttgart 1-0 at half time to run away 5-1 winners.
VfB Stuttgart started strongly and deserved their opening goal, although Serhou Guirassy took full advantage of a misplaced pass at the back from David Raum (35′). RBL went in at the break 1-0 down, not least because of an important save on the stroke of half time from Alexander Nübel to deny Loïs Openda (45+3′).
After the interval, Benny Henrichs earned his side the equaliser with determined pressing against Nübel’s clearance, and his block saw the ball richochet into the VfB net (51′). Openda thought he’d turned the game around just moments later, when Nübel spilled a cross at his feet in the box, but VAR ruled that he was in an offside positoin (53′).
It was just the start of a rampant period from Die Roten Bullen, who make it 5-1 within half an hour of the restart. Dani Olmo did get Leipzig’s second with a delightdul turn and finish (63′), Openda did get his goal, heading in at the back post to make it 3-1 (66′), Kevin Kampl added a fourth with a deflected long-range shot (74′), and Xavibagged his first goal for the club at the second bite of the cherry to wrap up a comprehensive win (76′).
7th minute: Dangerous opening
That was a close one. Stuttgart with the first notable chance of the game, but Janis Blaswich is behind the long-range strike from Führich, although RBL are lucky to see Guirassy put the rebound wide.
20th minute: Both teams pushing hard
It’s a real back-and-forth so far, with both teams looking to play positive football. It’s a matter of time before the opening goal arrives…
28th minute: Openda fires narrowly wide
Decent effort from Loïs Openda! Our attacker takes aim from the top oft he box and the ball only just zips wide of the target. More of the same!
35th minute: Guirassy opens the scoring
Xaver Schlager isn’t far away from the opener, but the ball ins in the back of the net down the other end moments later. David Raum gives the ball away in defender, and Serhou Guirassy dances past Mohamed Simakan before slotting home.
45th minute +3: Nübel saves from Openda
So close! Loïs Openda is through on the right after a great ball from Benny Henrichs, but Alexander Nübel stands tall to deny him one-on-one. The half-time whistle isn’t far behind.
47th minute: Orbán somehow kept out!
What a save, you have to say! A free-kick lands perfectly on the head of Willi Orbán who directs the ball on goal from six yards, but Nübel demonstrates incredible reaction to push the ball over.
However, Orbán was caught in the face by the high boot of Waldemar Anton during his header. The referee goes across to look at the replay on the screen, yet somehow decides to only award the corner!
51st minute: Henrichs levels things up
GET IN THERE! The equaliser does come this time. Nübel, who was Stuttgart’s hero moments ago, fires his clearance into the outstretched leg of the onrushing Benjamin Henrichs and the ball bounces back off our right-back and into the net. Brilliantly chased down!
53rd minute: Turnaround denied
It looked like it was 2-1 to RBL so quickly after the equaliser. Openda happily gobbles up the loose ball after Nübel lets a low cross slip from his grasp, but the video assistant decides that it wasn’t a new phase of play and offside is cruely given against Openda.
63rd minute: Dani turns it around
What a player this guy is! The ball is fed to Dani Olmo on the edge of the box by Xavi Simons. El Mago takes one touch to get the ball out of his feet with his back to goal, before turning and shooting with his left right into the bottom corner out of Nübel’s reach. Magnificent! 2-1 to Leipzig.
66th minute: Openda gets his goal
Now we’re cooking! A cross from David Raum finds Loïs Openda towards the back post, and he has an easy header to make it 3-1.
76th minute: Kampl and Simons wrap things up
A long-range strike from Kevin Kampl after a corner takes a nick off a defender and flies into the back of the net to make it four, although it’s 5-1 just two minutes later. Xavi Simons races beyond the backline and is initially denied by Nübel, but he picks himself up to gather the rebound and beats the VfB goalkeeper at the second time of asking.
Bundesliga | RB Leipzig vs. VfB Stuttgart
Line-ups
RBL: Blaswich – Simakan (85′ Klostermann), Orbán, Olmo (85′ Baumgartner), Poulsen (79′ Šeško), Openda (79′ Werner), Simons (79′ Forsberg), Raum, Schlager, Henrichs, Kampl
VFB: Nübel – Anton, Guirassy, Jeong (90′ Leweling), Silas, Stenzel (70′ Massimo), Karazor, Ito, Zagadou, Egloff (70′ Haraguchi), Führich (90′ Mittelstädt)
Unused RBL subs: Zingerle (GK), Seiwald, Carvalho, Lukeba
Unused VFB subs: Bredlow (GK), Millot, Milošević, Stergiou, Sosa
Goals
1-1 Henrichs (51′), 2-1 Olmo (63′), 3-1 Openda (66′), 4-1 Kampl (74′), 5-1 Simons (76′) | 0-1 Guirassy (35′)
Yellow cards
Schlager (61′) | Egloff (65′)
Match officials
- Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück)
- 1st assistant: Guido Kleve (Nordhorn)
- 2nd assistant: Dr. Arne Aarnink (Bochum)
- Fourth official: Jan Seidel (Oberkrämer)
- Video assistant: Johan Pfeifer (Hameln)
Attendance
46,084 fans in der Red Bull Arena (sold-out)