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Leipzig sharp, BVB out of focus: This is how you can balance the game
Photo:
CLEMENS BILAN / EPA
Scene of the game:
If you understand an action as emblematic of this game, then it was a scene right at the beginning of the game: Dortmund's Thorgan Hazard spoiled the ball on the wing against Leipzig's Tyler Adams, who played on the ubiquitous Christopher Nkunku in the penalty area . Nkunku played Mats Hummels, suddenly stood free in front of the goal and failed against the also omnipresent goalkeeper Gregort Kobel. Dominik Szoboszlai put the margin next to the goal. Without Kobel and the reliably sloppy evaluation of the chances of Leipzig, this game would have ended 5: 1 or 6: 1.
Result of the game: In
the end, it was only a 2-1 for RB Leipzig over Borussia Dortmund. Nkunku (of course) and Yussuf Poulsen scored for RB (29th / 68th minute), Marco Reus had meanwhile equalized to everyone's surprise (52nd). The details of the course of the game can be found here.
The first half:
The Dortmunders looked intimidated from the start. Presumably not just from the backdrop in Leipzig - there were presumably all Leipzig residents who didn't care about "Wetten, dass ...?" At least BVB let itself be bought from the first minute. Leipzig pressed and stormed. A wild hunt, a spectacle to watch with great pleasure. Referee Felix Zwayer also gave four yellows, which was also appropriate. The 1-0 win by Nkunku was logical and the half-time result was a polite understatement.
The second half:
Anyone who watched Leipzig more often this season knew what was coming. Poulsen should have made the 2-0 immediately after the break, instead Marco Reus scored the 1-1. It was the first shot on goal by Péter Gulácsi. But then something unusual happened: Jesse Marsch's team just kept going, and this time Poulsen actually scored his goal. BVB remained completely inferior to the end.
Player of the Game:
It may be unfair to deny a Leipzig citizen, especially Christopher Nkunku, this award. But what Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel held again that evening, still outstripped the Leipzig striker. The Swiss convinced every week, even against RB he always had a hand, a foot or something else in between to prevent a hit. Shortly before the end he slipped in his own penalty area, Adams suddenly had the chance to make everything clear. But before the RB player knew it, Kobel was back like the hedgehog against the rabbit.
Goalscorer of the game:
With his goal Marco Reus reached fourth place among BVB's record
scorers
. With 102 league goals he drew level with Stéphane Chapuisat. There are now only three BVB legends left in front of him: Manni Burgsmüller, Michael Zorc and Lothar Emmerich. "I don't give a shit about the goal," as Reus' reaction after the game says how much the evening ate him. He complained about "stupid goals against" and said: "You can forget about the first half right away."
Black and yellow prospects:
Many injured people from Haaland to Can, from Guerrero to Dahoud, both top games of the week against Ajax and Leipzig were lost.
After all, it won't go against Bayern for four weeks.
Then a few injured people will be back, Erling Haaland probably not yet.
And Borussia Dortmund without Haaland - what that was could be seen this week.
Referee decision of the game:
Five minutes before the end, Dortmund's Thomas Meunier, who had already been warned in yellow, rushed from the side into a duel with Leipzig's Szoboszlai.
He fell, rolled over on the floor - and was shown by Zwayer yellow for acting.
At that moment, Mats Hummels' heart became very warm.
Statistics of the game:
RB won the first home game in its Bundesliga history in September 2016 against Dortmund 1-0. From the then BVB starting XI, only substitute goalkeeper Roman Bürki is in the squad today. That 1-0 was also the last RB home win over Dortmund - until this evening.
Quote from the game:
"He's not a good friend, he's a friend." Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch apparently attached great importance to this difference when he described his relationship with BVB coach Marco Rose.
One can debate for a long time whether this is an appreciation or a depreciation.
Fact: Marsch was Rose's successor at Red Bull Salzburg.
And when the camera lifted Rose and his assistant René Maric into the picture shortly before the end, both looked as if they had longed for the tranquil Salzkammergut at that moment.
Realization of the game:
Bayern win, second Dortmund and third Freiburg lose their games.
Everything goes its regular course.