RB Leipzig defeat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1!
Joško Gvardiol, André Silva, Christopher Nkunku and Benjamin Henrichs on the scoresheet for RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1 on Matchday 15 of the Bundesliga. Joško Gvardiol (21’), André Silva (33’), Christopher Nkunku (90+1’) and Benjamin Henrichs (90+4’) scored the goals as new head coach Domenico Tedesco celebrated a win on his first game in charge. Ramy bensebaini (88’) scored the goal for Adi Hütter’s side. The victory sees Leipzig move up to seventh place in the league, just four points off the Champions League places.
The Red Bulls asserted their authority on the game from the first minute and their pressing was a constant problem for Gladbach. Tedesco’s side won the ball often high up the pitch and were able to create dangerous chances as a result. Gvardiol headed in from an Angeliño free kick to open the scoring, twelve minutes before André Silva doubled the lead and gave the Spanish full back his second assist of the day.
Leipzig could have increased their lead earlier on the second half, but good chances to Silva (52’), Forsberg (62’) and Nkunku (74’) went untaken. The visitors came into the game in the final quarter of an hour and found the back of the net in the 88th minute. With Hütter’s side pushing high in injury time, Leipzig’s long balls over the defence were the icing on the cake. Nkunku finished past Sommer in the 90+1st minute, before turning provider for Benjamin Henrichs three minutes later. A richly deserved and welcome victory after three consecutive league defeats for Leipzig.
Statistics:
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi - Orban (63' Henrichs), Simakan, Gvardiol - Mukiele, Kampl, Laimer (71' Adams), Angeliño - Forsberg (63' Szoboszlai), Nkunku - Silva (84' Brobbey)
Unused subs: Martinez, Tschauner, Moriba, Bonnah, Wosz
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH:
Sommer - Scally, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini - Zakaria, Kone - Hofmann (54' Benes), Stindl (76' Plea), Thuram - Embolo
Unused subs: Sippel, Lainer, Netz, Kramer, Neuhaus, Wolf, Herrmann
REFEREE:
Bastian Dankert (Schwerin)
GOALS:
1-0 Gvardiol (21'), 2-0 Silva (33'), 3-1 Nkunku (90'+1), 4-1 Henrichs (90'+3) - Bensebaini (88')
YELLOW CARDS:
Orban (59'), Gvardiol (81'), Simakan (89') - Embolo (41'), Stindl (42')
ATTENDANCE:
0 | Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
First half highlights:
1st minute:
Kick-off at the Red Bull Arena. Let's go boys!
3rd minute:
Gladbach attack through the centre and the first shot of the game falls to Thuram. No problem for Gulácsi.
6th minute:
Forsberg shoots from a free kick. Sommer dives down to his left and parries the ball clear.
7th minute:
Double chance! The Red Bulls win possession in an advanced area and attack directly. Laimer drives forward and finds Mukiele to his right. Nordi’s powerful shot is pushed out by Sommer and the rebound falls to Laimer, but he turns the ball over the bar.
10th minute:
A one-two with Nkunku sees Kampl get in behind the defence. Our number 44 finds Silva in the middle but his shot goes just wide to the left.
19th minute:
A through ball sets Nkunku in behind. Christo shoots low with his right, but Sommer is there again and stops with his left foot.
19th minute:
No sign of letting up! Mukiele again, but Sommer is able to save again.
21st minute: Goal for RB Leipzig!
Gvardiol opens the scoring! Angeliño delivers a free kick from the right. Gvardiol finds space and dives to head home from close range.
22nd minute:
Scally plays a high ball in behind. Thuram brings it down and gets into the area, and goes to ground as he shoots. The ball falls to Embolo, who then shoots wide of the target.
32nd minute:
Hofmann with a dangerous delivery into the box from a free kick. Elvedi meets the ball at the back post but heads wide.
33rd minute: Goal for RB Leipzig!
Lead doubles! Another quick transition from Tedesco’s side after winning the ball. Forsberg finds Angeliño on the left, who delivers a low cross towards the far post. Silva is in the right place and finishes from close range.
34th minute:
Nkunku finds himself in space on the edge of the area and tries his luck, but his effort goes over the bar.
44th minute:
Nkunku tries another effort and sees his shot go over the bar again.
45th minute:
Mukiele gets a good ball across into Silva from the right-hand side. The forward turns and shoots in a good movement, but Sommer gets down really well to push round the post with one hand. He’s keeping Gladbach in it here.
Half-time:
With seven shots on goal, more possession and more sprints, the Red Bulls are asserting their dominance over Gladbach and deservedly lead 2-0. The visitors have their goalkeeper to thank that they’re only two behind.
Second half highlights:
46th minute:
Back underway in the Red Bull Arena! Domenico Tedesco makes no changes at half time.
48th minute:
The Red Bulls start just as well in the second half. Simakan crosses into the area and Mukiele tries a scorpion kick but doesn’t connect.
52nd minute:
How’s that not 3-0?! Gladbach give the ball away in build up and Sommer rushes out to try and clear the danger. The goalkeeper gets it all wrong and Nkunku finds himself with the ball. He drives into the area before squaring to Silva in a two-on-one with a Gladbach defender. Under pressure, Silva shoots at the open goal but the ball bounces back off the crossbar. It looked to have taken a slight bobble just before the shot.
53rd minute:
Stindl has a go from distance, but it’s no problem for Gulácsi.
62nd minute:
Silva is through on the right squares the ball across the area. Gladbach clear ahead of Mukiele but the ball falls to Forbserg. Our number 10 shoots but misses the target to the left.
63rd minute:
Double change for Leipzig: Henrichs and Szoboszlai are on in place of Orban and Forsberg.
70th minute:
Gladbach are finally showing some signs of danger. Hütter's side still lack a little precision in the final third, however.
71st minute:
Adams comes on for the impressive Laimer.
74th minute:
Nkunku breaks clear down the left and cuts into the area before shooting low across goal with his right. Sommer gets down brilliantly to deflect around the post.
82nd minute:
Pete called into action! Benes crosses from the right and Embolo heads from close range at the back post. Gulácsi comes out quickly to close down the striker and deflects behind for a corner.
88th minute: Goal for Gladbach
The visitors have had a short spell or pressure and it’s paid off. Benes delivers a free kick from the left and after Leipzig are unable to properly clear, the ball ends up with Bensebaini, who acrobatically shoots into the top left corner with his back to goal.
91st minute: Goal for Leipzig!
Christo puts the icing on the cake! With Gladbach risking more in the final moments, a high ball exposes their defensive line and Nkunku is has a free run to goal. Under pressure from two backtracking defenders, the Frenchman keeps his cool and approaches Sommer before powering past the goalkeeper. 3-1!
94th minute: Goal for Leipzig!
Another ball behind the defence to Nkunku. Rather than shooting, this time Nkunku sees the supporting Henrichs, who hits it perfectly past Sommer to make it 4-1 in the final minute of the game!
Full time:
The final whistle blows! RB Leipzig record a deserved 4.1 win at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach.