Home opener goes to plan! RB Leipzig defeat VfB Stuttgart 4-0
RB Leipzig emerged victorious in their first home game of the season against VfB Stuttgart | Goals from debutant Dominik Szoboszlai (38’, 52’), Emil Forsberg (46’) and Andre Silva (64’) in 4-0 win | 23,100 RBL fans in the Red Bull Arena
What a game for our home opener! The Red Bulls overpowered VfB Stuttgart in front of 23,100 fans at the Red Bull Arena. Head coach Jesse Marsch’s three changes to the starting XI paid off, as his side went on to secure all three points in a 4-0 win. Player of the match was Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored a brace on his first start for the club.
The team's performance was impressive from the outset. Nevertheless, a strong performance from Florian Müller kept the scores level on numerous occasions, including a stop to deny a remarkable bicycle kick by Andre Silva (23'). However, Dominik Szoboszlai's rocket finally got the better of the VfB keeper, the Bundesliga debutant hammering home from the right edge of the penalty area into the far corner to send RBL into halftime with the deserved lead.
The second half got off to an incredible start. After just 16 seconds, Emil Forsberg had the ball in the net to double the RBL advantage after some impressive link-up play and a Silva assist (46'). The Red Bulls showed no signs of slowing down; a little later it was Domi again to make it three, his free-kick bulleted in from the left flying untouched through the box and in at the far post (52'). The final goal of the game came from the penalty spot through Andre Silva, who scored his first competitive goal for RBL after a handball in the area (64'). In the closing phases, the visitors had some chances to open their own account for the night, but the reliable Peter Gulacsi remained fully focused to record his first clean sheet of the new Bundesliga season and see out a 4-0 win in the home opener.
RB Leipzig line up:
Gulácsi – Simakan, Orban (76' Mukiele), Klostermann, Gvardiol – Haidara (68' Sabitzer), Forsberg (c), Adams, Szobsozlai (68' Laimer), Nkunku (82' Poulsen) – Silva (68' Hwang)
Unused substitutes: Martinez, Brobbey, Raebiger, Kampl
Goals:
1-0 Szoboszlai (38')
2-0 Forsberg (46')
3-0 Szoboszlai (52')
4-0 Silva (64')
Goosebumps! Even before kickoff, 23,100 fans in the Red Bull Arena had the atmosphere on fire ahead of a great night of football. It's great to have you back!
First half highlights
5th minute: RBL are in control from the start and are the first to threaten the opposition goal. Captain Emil Forsberg shoots from distance, but goalkeeper Müller is there to parry at the bottom corner.
9th minute: Silva with a chance! Szoboszlai plays a neat ball to our striker, who has space but fails to make proper contact with the ball and misses the target to the right.
10th minute: Pete the wall! Hamadi Al Ghaddioui hits a free-kick cross on the volley towards goal, but Peter Gulacsi makes no mistake at the near post.
14th minute: What a run! Josko Gvardiol makes beats three Stuttgart defenders on his way into penalty area before playing across goal. The ball eventually falls to Willi Orban, but he doesn't have enough space to beat the onrushing Müller.
16th minute: The RBL lead is coming! Nkunku cuts in from the left and shoots toward the far corner. Müller pushes away with one hand and the ball rebounds straight off the head of Forsberg just wide of the post.
17th minute: Stuttgart fight back! Philipp Klement sends Borna Sosa down the left. He uses his pace and shoots from a narrow angle but misses the target.
18th minute: Forsberg puts the ball into the penalty area on the right to Tyler Adams, whose ball back across goal is blocked by a Stuttgart defender.
23rd minute: Silva artistic! The Portuguese tries a bicycle kick in the Stuttgart penalty area, makes a good connection, but Müller reacts brilliantly. That would have been some first goal!
29th minute: RB Leipzig stay on top! Almost all the play is taking place within the Stuttgart half. Lukas Klostermann is the next to test Müller, who is on hand to save.
33rd minute: Nearly an opener for Stuttgart! Roberto Massimo has too much space on the right and delivers a precise cross to Al Ghaddioui, who is inches away from a good contact from just yards out.
38th minute: THERE IT IS! From the right edge of the penalty area, Szoboszlai hits the ball perfectly into the far corner, beyond the reach of a diving Müller. What a way to score your first Bundesliga goal. There's the deserved lead as we enter half time.
Second half highlights
46th minute: What a lightning start for RBL! Immediately after the kickoff, our attack combines beautifully forward. Some brilliant link-up play ends with Andre Silva's backheel into the path of Emil Forsberg, who bears down on goal and delivers a cute finish past Müller. 2-0 just 16 seconds into the half!
52nd minute: ANOTHER ONE! From a good 25 metres and what is almost from the sideline, Szoboszlai fires a bullet free kick into the Stuttgart penalty area. The ball is missed by everyone and ends up powering past Müller and in at the far post.
60th minute: VfB look for their opening goal, but Pete is on hand again. Massimo is played into the penalty area but slips and doesn't strike well enough to beat our number one.
64th minute: 4-0! After a Stuttgart handball in the penalty area, Andre Silva confidently steps up and powers the ball home. Müller guesses the right way but is no match for the pace and power of Silva's strike.
69th minute: RBL want more! Substitute Konrad Laimer receives the ball from the right but is unable to beat Müller from close range, with his first touch of the game.
80th minute: Stuttgart show their morale and attack again. Endo with a diving header, but Peter Gulacsi saves.
84th minute: Stuttgart continue in their search for a consolation. A volley from the edge of the penalty area is palmed away by Pete.
90th minute: The last chance of the game! Substitute Nordi Mukiele rises highest at a corner but can't find the target with his header. That's the final action of the game and the referee blows for full time. A 4-0 win!