RB Leipzig is slowly losing sight of record champions Munich. There is only one point against Leverkusen, which is probably not enough in the championship race given the current form of Bayern.
Leipzig (dpa) - RB Leipzig suffered a setback in the battle for the championship and had to leave the leaders Bayern Munich. The team of coach Julian Nagelsmann only got 1-1 (1: 1) against Bayer Leverkusen in the top game of the Bundesliga.
After the last two wins, RB gave back points and is now two points behind Bayern. In addition, Leipzig has the much worse goal difference.
In front of 41,216 spectators, Leon Bailey (29) completed a counterattack to the Leverkusen leadership. Almost immediately, Patrik Schick (32nd) equalized according to a standard with his sixth goal of the season. After all, RB posted a small sense of achievement: Before the game, the contract extension with the currently injured US international Tyler Adams was announced until 2025.
Nagelsmann brought Emil Forsberg to the starting XI for the first time in a month. The Swedish international responsible for the brainwaves was allowed to play for the yellow-barred Konrad Laimer and offered a moderate performance.
The first good idea came from Leverkusen. Kerem Demirbay (5th) swung off the edge of the box and forced RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to a parade. After that, opportunities arose mainly from individual mistakes. Jonathan Tah (13th) failed, but Timo Werner did not use the dropout and dribbled himself in the penalty area. Then national team-mate Marcel Halstenberg (23rd) didn't look good, but Kai Havertz's conclusion was far too harmless. The same was true for the shot by Lucas Alario (29th) after a mistake by Dayot Upamecano.
Finally, Marcel Sabitzer made the first mistake with consequences. A missed pass from the RB captain Leverkusen used for a quick counterattack. Havertz prevailed on the right side, fit flat into the back room, where Bailey only had to put his foot out to lead. The Jamaican was in the starting eleven for the freshly baked Papa Moussa Diaby.
But the joy was short-lived. Three minutes later Schick headed a free kick from Christopher Nkunku into the Bayer goal. Leipzig was now better in the game, Leverkusen withdrew further. Nkunku had the lead on foot, but his 18-meter shot just deflected Leverkusen's goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky around the post.
Afterwards, both teams largely neutralized each other again. A deflected shot by Lukas Klostermann from Demirbay (61.) caused a short murmur, but ultimately clearly missed the goal. But the teams increasingly avoided the risk, so that the fans hoped in vain for further opportunities.
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