0:2 at RB Leipzig – Union Berlin disappointed and clearly lost
imago images/Jan Kaefe
Audio: rbb24 Inforadio | 02/04/2024 | Thorsten vom Weg | Image: imago images/Jan Kaefe
Only against Union Berlin had Rasenball Leipzig lost more than half of all Bundesliga games before the current matchday. The fact that it didn’t stay that way was due to a good home team and Union’s blatant weakness in set pieces.
- Alexander Schwolow was in the Union goal for the first time because regular goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow was absent due to illness
- As in the first leg, the team must end the game outnumbered
- 66 percent ball possession for Leipzig
- Union but with good mileage (121.15 to 120.69 kilometers)
At the end of the 20th matchday in the Bundesliga Union Berlin lost 0:2 (0:1) at Rasenball Leipzig. The goals were scored by Lois Openda (11th minute) and Benjamin Sesko (48th). The Berliners also received a red card for Christopher Trimmel in the 73rd minute. Due to the defeat, Union remains at 17 points, two points ahead of the relegation place in 16th.
The course of the game
Leipzig was the team that dominated the game from the start. However, chances were initially in short supply against a Union that was deep and initially closed the spaces attentively.
That changed in the eleventh minute. Unfortunately for the guests, the first real opportunity was immediately punished with a goal. After a long free-kick cross from the right, Leipzig captain Willi Orban beat two Berliners in a header duel in the penalty area. The ball finally landed at the free-standing Lois Openda via a shot attempt by Benjamin Henrichs. Leipzig’s top striker then had no trouble getting the ball into the goal from about two meters.
As a result, Union seemed a little shocked. The team now had less access and could thank goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who was able to sensationally clear in the 18th minute against Openda, who appeared completely blank in front of him. In the second minute of added time, which lasted around six minutes due to fan protests and small balls being thrown onto the pitch, Schwolow made a strong save against a header from Benjamin Sesko following a Leipzig corner. Union, on the other hand, hardly took place offensively. The only thing that was noted was a header that was too weak and too central from newcomer Yorbe Vertessen after a cross from Robin Gosens (32nd minute).
Schwolow parries strongly
Shortly after the start of the second half, it was another standard situation that proved fatal for the Berliners. After a free kick cross from David Raum, Sesko, who was completely free, had no trouble this time beating Schwolow from five meters and making it 2-0 for Leipzig (48th). However, just five minutes later, Schwolow, who had moved between the posts to replace the regular goalkeeper who was briefly ill, was there again. Schwolow brilliantly parried a long-range shot from Dani Olmo from a right-wing position. In the 58th minute, Union was lucky that Sesko was just offside after Olmo’s cross and the supposed header hit didn’t count.
The guests from Berlin then took risks and appeared in promising situations several times, but without subsequently scoring a goal. The hopes of a possible follow-up goal were severely dampened in the 73rd minute when Union captain Christopher Trimmel received a justified red card after stepping in with an open sole. It stayed that way, also because Leipzig’s Xavi Simons only hit the crossbar from around 16 meters in the third minute of injury time, ultimately making it 0-2, which was still flattering from Berlin’s perspective.
The voices for the game
Marie-Louise Eta (assistant coach Union Berlin): “We already knew what a good team we were up against here. (…) Of course it was bitter that we fell behind relatively early on due to a set piece. (…) We had one good phase around the 60th minute.”
Robin Knoche (Union Berlin player): “I think we can look in the mirror today and say that we gave everything. But the bottom line is that we have to be honest and say that we deserved to lose today.”
Marco Rose (Trainer Rasenball Leipzig): “We are very happy today. (…) We knew that Union is difficult to play against and that you need patience. The quick goal certainly helped us.”
The voices in the audio
The game in the live ticker
Broadcast: rbb24, February 4th, 2024, 10 p.m