RBL drop out of top four with 3-1 loss to Gladbach
Nkunku (36’) cancels out Embolo's opener (17’) | Gladbach restore lead on the brink of half time through Hofmann (45’+2) | Hofmann scores only goal of second half (77’) | RBL lose ground in the race for the Champions League
Defeat for RB Leipzig. The Red Bulls were defeated 3-1 away by Borussia Mönchengladbach on matchday 32. Breel Embolo (17’) and Jonas Hofmann (45’+2, 77’) were on the scoresheet for Gladbach. Christopher Nkunku (36’) levelled the game in the first half, but Leipzig were unable to make use of their man advantage when Nico Elvedi was shown a straight red card in the 64th minute.
It was a slow start to the game but the Foals were on the scoresheet first. Konrad Laimer put Lars Stindl under pressure, but was unfortunate as his block on the Gladbach man’s pass ricocheted into he penalty area, where Embolo was the quickest to react to give his side the lead (17’). Leipzig slowly got into the game and managed to create danger with balls in behind the Gladbach defence. André Silva linked up with Christo Nkunku to level the scores, the Portuguese international playing over the top for the French international who scored his 18th league goal of the season (36’). Borussia found their response and replenished their lead on the counter attack. Scorer Embolo turned provider, finding Jonas Hofmann in behind, who slotted past Gulácsi one-on-one (45’+2).
Domenico Tedesco’s side delivered an improved performance in the second half but could not find the back of the net again. Silva met Angeliño's cross at the far post with a header, but Yann Sommer made an top save to push onto the crossbar (55’). Moments later, Christo Nkunku was played in behind the Gladbach defence and was fouled by Nico Elvedi – a challenge which saw the Swiss defender shown the red card (64’). Leipzig continued to press for the equaliser but were hit on the break by the 10-man home side. Kevin Kampl lost the ball on the edge of the area and Gladbach countered. Jordan Beyer played into the area and the ball sprung up for Jonas Hofmann, who scored his second goal of the game and his team’s third of the night (77’). With time running out, RBL did not give up. Dani Olmo (83’) and Angeliño (84’) each tried long-range efforts which were on target, but saw their shots saved by the impressive Yann Sommer.
The defeat sees RBL drop out of the top four. Tedesco’s team now sit in fifth place, one point behind Freiburg. Leverkusen remain in third place and have a four-point advantage over the Red Bulls.
More on the game:
"We couldn't enforce ourselves!"
Statistics:
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH:
Sommer - Beyer, Elvedi, Bensebaini - Lainer, Koné (89' Kramer), Neuhaus, Netz (90'+3 Scally) - Hofmann, Stindl (66' Friedrich) - Embolo (89' Pléa)
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi – Simakan (46' Klostermann), Orbán, Gvardiol (33' Halstenberg) - Mukiele (80' Forsberg), Laimer (80' Szoboszlai), Kampl, Angeliño - Olmo - Silva (65' Poulsen), Nkunku
REFEREE:
Martin Petersen (Stuttgart)
GOALS:
1-0 Embolo (17'), 1-1 Nkunku (36'), 2-1 Hofmann (45'+2), 3-1 Hofmann (77')
YELLOW CARDS:
Stindl (9), Koné (10), Neuhaus (2), Hofmann (1) | Gvardiol (7), Simakan (5)
RED CARDS:
Elvedi (64', professional foul)
ATTENDANCE:
34.500 | Borussia-Park
First half highlights:
1st minute:
Underway in Mönchengladbach. Let's go, Leipzig!
5th minute:
Not much to report from the opening five. Each side is still lacking a bit of precision going forward.
10th minute:
Joško pulls Lainer back as the full back gets the turn on him. The referee shows him a yellow card.
11th minute:
First shot: Gladbach’s Lainer tries one from distance but it’s no problem for Pete.
17th minute, goal for Gladbach:
Out of nothing. Hofmann plays a ball intot he area which recochets back to him. He then plays back to Stindl. The Gladbach man’s pass is blocked by Laimer, but the ball bounces goalwards into the RBL area and Embolo is the first to react. He shoots first time into the back of the net.
22nd minute:
Yellow card for Simakan after bringing down Gladbach’s Neuhaus. He’ll miss the next league game as that was his fifth yellow card. Stindl is also booked for his reaction to the challenge.
25th minute:
Chance for Leipzig: Angeliño sends a corner towards the far post from the right. Orbán meets it and heads a looping header back towards the far corner, but it’s saved by Sommer.
27th minute:
Joško catches Hofmann and with our number 32 already on a booking, referee Petersen gives him a final warning.
30th minute:
Gladbach are the better side so far and look a little more lively in attack.
33rd minute:
Marcel Halstenberg is on, replacing the booked Joško Gvardiol. He’ll slot into the back three.
36th minute, GOOAAL for RBL!
Silva receives a high ball from the left wing. On around halfway, the forward brings the ball in, turns and chips the ball over the defensive line for Nkunku. Our number 18 gets into the area, races away from the trailing defenders and slots over Sommer into the far corner! 1-1.
43rd minute:
RBL have improved since the goal. Balls in behind the defensive line are causing danger and Domenico Tedesco’s side are winning the ball back in good areas.
45 + 2nd minute, goal for Gladbach:
Embolo receives the ball on the counter from Hofmann, resists some pressure from RBL defenders before playing it back to his teammate in behind. Hofmann bears down on goal and finishes past Gulácsi. 2-1 on the stroke of half time.
45 + 2nd minute:
Domenico Tedesco is shown a yellow card.
Half-time:
The home side lead by a goal at the break. Leipzig picked up after their goal, but it wasn’t enough to disrupt the Gladbach defence. The hosts then re-established their lead on the stroke of half time.
Second half highlights:
46th minute:
Back underway for the second half with another change: Klostermann is on for Simakan.
50th minute:
Silva sends Laimer deep on the right. The midfielder gets to the byline and crosses, but it’s blocked behind by Bensebaini.
55th minute:
Close! Angeliño crosses into the area from the left. André Silva rises highest and meets it at the back post. His header is goal-bound, but Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer gets a hand to it and deflects onto the crossbar!
61st minute:
Silva plays it to Nkunku, who goes down in the penalty area. No foul, according to the referee.
62nd minute:
Kampl shoots from long range. No problem for Sommer.
64th minute, red card for Gladbach:
Olmo plays Christo through. He turns and is past the last defender, Elvedi, who slides and brings him down. He’s rightly shown the red card.
65th minute:
Substitution: André Silva is off, Yussuf Poulsen replaces him up front.
66th minute:
Christo shoots from the resulting free kick, but it’s over the bar.
71st minute:
RBL are now controlling the play with the home side happy to sit back and compact.
77th minute, goal for Gladbach:
Gladbach increase their lead on the counter attack. Kampl loses the ball on the edge of the area and the ball is quickly at the other end of the pitch. Neuhaus finds Beyer on the right. He plays a pass into the feet of Hofmann in the area and the ball deflects back to the Gladbach man in a duel with Orbán. He shoots past Gulácsi from close range. 3-1.
80th minute:
Double change: Forsberg and Szoboszlai come on for Laimer and Mukiele.
83rd minute:
Olmo takes a powerful right-footed shot from 18 metres out. Sommer gets there and produces a good stop.
84th minute:
This time it’s Angeliño who has an effort from distance. It’s bound for the stop corner, but Sommer dives and pushes around the post. Another great save.
90th minute:
Four minutes of added time.
Full time:
RBL fall to a 3-1 defeat away at Borussia Mönchengladbach and give up important points in the race for the top four and Champions League places.