Julian Nagelsmann and his players did it. For the first time, the coach and RB Leipzig are among the top eight in the Champions League. In front of a sold-out backdrop in Leipzig, RB Tottenham Hotspur from star coach Mourinho doesn't stand a chance.
Leipzig (dpa) - RB Leipzig has spoiled its viewers once again before the possible ghost game days in German football and celebrated the greatest success in club history with the move into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Led by double goal scorer Marcel Sabitzer, the third place in the Bundesliga table gave Tuesday coaches in the second round of the second leg Tottenham Hotspur from star coach José Mourinho no chance against a sold-out backdrop.
Sabitzer initiated the progress with his goals in the 10th and 21st minute early in the 3-0 (2-0), the round of the best eight in Europe is also a first for coach Julian Nagelsmann. Emil Forsberg (87.), who came on immediately before, set the end. The Leipzig party among the 42,146 spectators who had been given the green light for the European Cup evening by the health department the day before despite the rampant corona virus celebrated the team for minutes. RB won the first leg 1-0 in London.
The Leipzig fans quickly had reason to celebrate in the Red Bull Arena: first chance, first goal. The thigh problems that had forced Timo Werner to watch in the Bundesliga at the goalless meeting with VfL Wolfsburg were overcome. The national player pulled from 14 meters, his shot was blocked, the rebound landed again at Werner's feet, who immediately turned to Sabitzer.
A dry right-footed shot from a standing position, a French world champion goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on the fruitless search for form in the goal and RB led. It couldn't have gone better, coach Nagelsmann in a chic Champions League outfit knew that too.
The fact that the somewhat more offensive visitors from London than had to score two goals in the first leg did not change anything. The second did, and it wasn't long in coming. At first Werner cheered again. The 24-year-old, who has never met at home in the premier class, was offside (19th). The Spurs defense, which earned this name only to a very limited extent, never got a grip on the selective but resolutely attacking Leipziger.
After a long pass from Konrad Laimer's half of Leipzig, Tottenham's Serge Aurier extended the ball unwanted and clumsily with his head. Winter new signing Angeliño thanked him and flanked the ball from the left to the center, where Sabitzer overtook Lloris with a header this time. 2-0 in the second leg, 3-0 in the overall calculation. Mourinho's facial features slipped for a moment, his round of sixteen curse continuing. The Portuguese have never progressed in the Champions League after losing the first leg at home.
Without the attacking stars Steven Bergwijn, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, not too much happened in the attack of the guests. RB controlled the game and had a clear increase in chances. The huge spurs of the Spurs didn't really come. The people of Leipzig experienced a startling moment when Nordi Mukiele injured himself. After a collision, the Frenchman seemed quite dazed, he had to be brought from the square with a stretcher.
Nagelsmann later brought for the Sabitzer Forsberg, and the Swede scored less than half a minute later. Otherwise, the Leipzig team could spare themselves for the Bundesliga home game against SC Freiburg on Saturday. It remains to be seen whether RB will have to play his first ghost game.
Champions League
Squad RB Leipzig
Squad Tottenham