RBL secure important win with 1-0 victory over Freiburg

RB Leipzig picked up an important three points against a direct rival for the Champions League places on matchday 31. Marco Rose’s side defeated SC Freiburg 1-0 and moved into third place in the league table after Union Berlin’s defeat in Augsburg.

Timo Werner almost gave RBL the lead in the third minute but was denied by the post. Christopher Nkunku then went close in the 27th minute after a nice ball from Dani Olmo, but he couldn’t make best use of the chance. Despite being the better side and having a number of chances, RBL were unable to capitalise and the first half ended goalless.

Leipzig started the second half on the front foot and Nkunku played a ball across the face of goal, but Werner was just inches away from making contact (46’). There were not many chances at either end until Kevin Kampl opened the scoring in the 73rd minute. The substitute found himself in space in the opposition half, drove forward into the area, and finished into the back of the net after the ball rebounded back to him off a defender’s leg.

Marco Rose’s team defended their lead and managed the game cleverly after going ahead. Janis Blaswich pulled off a good save in the 91st minute to keep all three points for his side. Shortly before full time, Emil Forsberg came off the bench to mark the 300th RBL game of his career, while Xaver Schlager celebrated his comeback from injury after around two months on the sideline.

Tabelle

Match information:

SC Freiburg:
Flekken – Gulde, Eggestein (78′ Jeong), Höler, Kübler (78′ Schnmid), Höfler, Ginter, Günter (C) (78′ Ezekwem), Grifo, Weißhaupt (59′ Röhl), Gregoritsch (83′ Petersen)

Bench: Uphoff – Schmid, Keitel, Petersen, Ezekwem, Sildillia, Jeong, Röhl

RB Leipzig:
Blaswich – Simakan, Orbán (C), Olmo (78′ Halstenberg), Haidara (53′ Kampl), Werner (78′ Poulsen), Klostermann, Szoboszlai, Nkunku (90′ Nkunku), Laimer (90′ Schlager), Henrichs

Bench: Nyland – Poulsen, Forsberg, Silva, Raum, Halstenberg, Schlager, Diallo, Kampl

REFEREE:
Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden)

GOALS:
0:1 Kampl (73.)

ATTENDANCE:
32.900 | Europa-Park-Stadion

YELLOW CARDS:
Streich, Grifo (3rd of season) | Haidara (7th), Nkunku (3rd), Laimer (8th), Kampl (8th)

First half highlights:

1ST MINUTE:

We’re underway! Lukas Klostermann replaces Joško Gvardiol in central defence, Mo Simakan comes in at right back and Benjamin Henrichs moves to the left.

5TH MINUTE:

First big chance for RBL: Amaodu Haidara finds Timo Werner, but he hits the post one-on-one with Flekken.

10TH MINUTE:

Henrichs slips a brilliant pass into Werner, but his shot is deflected over the bar by Kübler after he cut back onto his right foot.

16TH MINUTE:

Weißhaupt gets into the area and goes down under the pressure of Willi Orban, but it’s not enough for a penalty.

27TH MINUTE:

Chistopher Nkunku is played in by Olmo but can’t beat Flekken – another big chance!

33RD MINUTE:

We still have more possession, but in the final third we lack a bit of directness. The Breisgauers are well sorted.

HALF TIME:

No goals in the first half. RBL have had a number of good chances but couldn’t find the back of the net.

First half in photos

Second half highlights:

46TH MINUTE:

The second half is underway! No changes for either side at the break.

46TH MINUTE:

RBL with a rapid start! Christo gets into the box down the right and hits a ball across the face of goal, but it just misses Timo by inches.

52ND MINUTE:

Kevin Kampl replaces Haidara, who was running the risk of a second yellow card.

73RD MINUTE, GOOOAAAAALL FOR RBL:

YES!! Kevin Kampl has a lot of space in midfield and carries the ball into the area. He looks to play a pass, but the ball deflects off a defender into his path. He takes a touch and finishes into the back of the net!

79TH MINUTE:

RBL are operating a little deeper now, welcoming the home side onto them in a bid to hit on the counter.

83RD MINUTE:

Dominik Szoboszlai receives the ball at the far post, takes a touch and powers a shot goalwards, but it’s well saved by Flekken.

83RD MINUTE:

Emil Forsberg and Xaver Schlager come on for the final few minutes. Konrad Laimer and Nkunku make way.

91ST MINUTE:

Janis makes a great save to deny Nils Petersen and prevent the equaliser.

FULL TIME:

Three big points take Leipzig into third place in the table!