RB Leipzig suffered a setback at the unleashed VfB Stuttgart in their first away game of the year. The Bundesliga soccer team lost 1:2 (1:0) at VfB on Wednesday evening despite being ahead. Although RB remains in fourth place in the Champions League table at the end of the first half of the season, Stuttgart has moved up to one point.
“We have improved enormously and deserved to win,” VfB sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth analyzed happily on “Sky”. “We had a little period of discovery at the beginning, but things were much better in the second half. We want to play internationally again next year.”
With temperatures just above freezing, Benjamin Sesko gave Leipzig an early lead (10th), but a much improved VfB turned the game around after the break with new signing Jacob Bruun Larsen (50th) and Nick Woltemade (60th). Stuttgart is once again in the middle of the race for the coveted premier class ranks. At RB, Sesko (85th) and Lois Openda (88th) each saw yellow-red.
As fifth in the table, Stuttgart is suddenly back in the middle of the race for the coveted premier class ranks. At RB, Sesko (85th) and Lois Openda (88th) each saw yellow-red. The two Champions League participants each started the new year with a win at the weekend; Before the duel between the second and fourth-placed teams last season, RB coach Marco Rose even spoke of a “top game.”
The two Champions League participants each started the new year with a win at the weekend; Before the duel between the second and fourth-placed teams last season, RB coach Marco Rose even spoke of a “top game.”
The 48-year-old turned out to be right with his prediction. Both teams tried to play a quick attacking game in the opening minutes – this was to lead to success for the first time in the case of the guests: Xavi Simons, who returned from his injury break with a brace in the 4-2 win against Bremen, put Sesko in the spotlight from a central position unplaced but shot hard at goal. VfB keeper Alexander Nübel could only deflect.
A good second half is enough for VfB Stuttgart
VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß had called up two starting eleven debutants, Ameen Al-Dakhil and Bruun Larsen – and had to watch as RB took control of the MHP Arena after taking the lead at the latest. Openda failed to quickly follow up with his shot at the post (18th).
In an emotionally charged game, VfB then successfully wriggled out of Leipzig’s grip and at least sent a warning signal in the person of Deniz Undav from a suspicious offside position (25′). However, the Swabians still lacked accuracy. Leipzig resorted to quick counterattacks, and Xavi was denied by Nübel from a tight angle in the 38th minute.
The second half began with a bang: Undav hit a cross from the right halffield, Bruun Larsen also celebrated his goal debut for VfB with a pinpoint header after his starting eleven debut. The Stuttgart team now got a taste for it and repeatedly forced the guests to lose the ball – which ultimately resulted in the 2-1: RB keeper Peter Gulacsi initially fended off Undav, Woltemade scored in the follow-up.
Leipzig now had little relief, the Hoeneß team seemed closer to the third goal than RB to the equalizer.
Source: www.sport.de
