Three games, three defeats – things didn’t go well for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga this year. Then 1. FC Union Berlin arrived on Sunday (February 4, 2024).
Leipzig won 2-0 (1-0) on matchday 20 of the Bundesliga, with the goals scored by Loïs Openda (11th minute) and Benjamin Sesko (48th). It was an important win for Leipzig and it was their first points in the league in 2024. RB had previously lost three times in a row in January. “We are happy that we have achieved a sense of success again after not so easy weeks,” said Leipzig coach Marco Rose in an interview with ARD radio.
To the live ticker: Leipzig – Union Arrow right 20th matchday Arrow right
Leipzig remains fifth in the table (36 points), but benefits from the slip-up of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund (37 points). Union Berlin remains in 15th place and is now only two points ahead of 1. FC Köln.
“Of course you can be disappointed today, but the next task is on Wednesday,” Berlin’s assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta told ARD radio. She is representing the suspended head coach Nenad Bjelica these weeks; he will also be sitting in the stands in the catch-up game of the 18th matchday on Wednesday (February 7th, 2024) at 1. FSV Mainz 05.
Sportschau, February 4th, 2024 8:13 p.m
Leipzig’s Openda hits and hits and hits
Leipzig took the lead after Xavi Simons sent a free kick onto the back post. The ball came somewhat luckily to Openda via Willi Orban and Benjamin Henrichs, who hit the far corner from a tight angle. For the Belgian Openda it was goal number 14 of the season. He scored in the third league game in a row. “We knew that Union was difficult to play against,” Leipzig’s coach told ARD radio: “The quick goal helped us.”
Sportschau, February 4th, 2024 8:21 p.m
It didn’t take much and Openda would have scored again just four minutes later. Dani Olmo conjured up a pass to Openda, who finished straight away but was denied by Alexander Schwolow in the Union goal. On the sideline an assistant signaled for offside, but it wasn’t offside. A goal would probably have been checked by VAR and then counted.
Schwolow first keeps Union in the game – and then has no chance
Nevertheless, Leipzig’s lead at the break could have been higher. Union Berlin was lucky in stoppage time when Schwolow, who was in goal for the ill Frederik Rönnow, parried Sesko’s header (45th + 2).
At the beginning of the second half there were two more duels between Leipzig’s attacker Sesko and Berlin’s Schwolow, and in each case the goalkeeper had no chance: First David Raum took a free kick to the first post, where Sesko was able to head the ball unchallenged. It was Sesko’s fifth goal of the season. Then Sesko scored again, only he was offside (59′). The hit didn’t count.
Leipzig’s Olmo does the “Rabona”
But the template won’t be forgotten: Dani Olmo crossed, he pulled his shooting leg behind his supporting leg and hit the ball. In football parlance, this is called “Rabona”. The trick is demanding, in the district league it rarely leads to success, rather it leads to injuries.
Schwolow directs Xavi Simons’ shot onto the crossbar
But even with a two-goal lead, RB Leipzig played like a team that could qualify for the Champions League. They were often on the ball, and often they knew what to do with it. At one point the television cameras caught coach Rose giving a thumbs up. He didn’t look unhappy. He had no reason to either. His team almost scored another goal in stoppage time, but Schwolow wiped a shot from Xavi Simons onto the crossbar.
Red against Unions Trimmel
And 1. FC Union, themselves a Champions League participant this season, played like a team that has to worry about staying in the league this season. Who, after the change of coach to Nenad Bjelica, plays a different style of football and has recently won games with it. But against Leipzig she was far from winning. They hardly ever had any good chances to score. And the scene with Christopher Trimmel also fit that evening.
It was the 73rd minute when Trimmel attempted a tackle on the outside line. He did straddle to hit the ball. But he didn’t hit the ball with his tackle, he only hit opponent David Raum. Referee Marco Fritz showed Trimmel red.