Brilliant Leipzig beat Dortmund 2-1
Nkunku and Poulsen on the scoresheet for RBL | Reus equalised early in the second half | First home win over Dortmund in over five years | Record attendance at the Red Bull Arena
Three points on matchday 11! RBL celebrated a superb 2-1 home win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening. Christopher Nkunku gave his side the lead in the first half, before Marco Reus equalised in the second. Yussuf Poulsen then regained the lead to secure a well-deserved victory and give Leipzig their first home win over BVB in over five years.
The Red Bulls dominated the first half with aggressive pressing preventing the visitors from playing the game on their terms. The deadlock was almost broken early on through a good double chance from Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai in the 13th minute. Christo was not to be denied later, opening the scoring after latching onto a perfect Josko Gvardiol pass, rounding BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and slotting into the empty net – a deserved lead at half time.
Leipzig started the second half well but Yussuf Poulsen didn’t make the most of an early chance (50’) and Marco Reus punished them with the equaliser (52’). RBL were undeterred and reestablished their authority on the game. Nkunku hit the post after a fantastic piece of footwork in the area (64’). Four minutes later, the dangerman became provider. Nkunku’s cross to the back post was turned home by Poulsen to regain the lead (58’). From then on, RBL were strong in duels and kept BVB at bay. The third goal even came close, with Adams having a dangerous chance and Mukiele’s header ruled out for offside. In the end, it was a very deserved victory to see Leipzig’s unbeaten league run stretch to seven games.
Off the pitch, a new record attendance was set in the Red Bull Arena, with 43,429 fans in attendance to witness a top performance and three more points being secured.
Statistics
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi - Mukiele, Simakan, Gvardiol - Henrichs (59' Forsberg), Adams, Haidara (84' Laimer), Angeliño - Nkunku (84' Olmo), Szoboszlai - Poulsen (69' Silva)
Unused subs: Martinez, Brobbey, Moriba, Novoa, Kampl
BORUSSIA DORTMUND:
Kobel - Pongracic (46' Knauff), Hummels, Akanji - Meunier, Witsel (86' Zagadou), Bellingham, Hazard - Brandt (82' Reinier) - Reus, Malen (71' Moukoko)
Unused subs: Hitz, Passlack, Papadopoulos, Tigges
REFEREE:
Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
YELLOW CARDS:
Adams (40'), Poulsen (65'), Szoboszlai (88') - Reus (31'), Bellingham (31'), Witsel (38'), Meunier (55'), Moukoko (89')
GOALS:
1-0 Nkunku (29'), 2-1 Poulsen (68') - 1-1 Reus (52')
ATTENDANCE:
43,429 - a new record at the Red Bull Arena!
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
1st minute:
Kick-off at the Red Bull Arena!
6th minute:
The Red Bulls are enjoying the better start so far and have recorded 58% of possession to show for it.
13th minute:
Double chance RBL! Some impressive high pressing sees our boys dispossess Witsel. The ball is quickly played forwards and Nkunku bears down a one-on-one with Kobel. The goalkeeper saves before Szoboszlai puts the rebound wide from a narrow angle.
17th minute:
Nkunku again! The pressing is working really well as Christo wins the ball and attacks the area at pace. His right-footed shot is blocked before the onrushing Kobel gets to the ball ahead of Szoboszlai.
21st minute:
Angeliño’s corner is met by Mukiele, but his header is saved by Kobel.
29th minute, GOOOAAL for RB Leipzig:
YES! Christo gets the reward for a strong team performance and opens the scoring! Gvardiol plays an incredible pass behind the defence. Nkunku’s first touch takes him coolly round the goalkeeper before leaving him with the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net.
36th minute:
BVB show their first signs of danger. Brandt finds Meunier who crosses from the byline down the right. His cross picks out Bellingham in the area, whose shot is blocked.
Half time
A more-than-deserved one goal lead for the boys at the break. RBL have been aggressive from the very beginning and have not allowed Dortmund to play. After a number of good chances for the whole team, Christopher Nkunku was the one to break the deadlock in the 29th minute. More of the same will see us land our second-ever home win against BVB!
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
46th minute:
Back for the second half! RBL are unchanged, while Dortmund make one substitution. Knauff comes on for Pongracic.
49th minute:
BVB are now playing with a four-man defence with Hazard at left-back.
50th minute:
What a move! Haidara with some smart work before finding Nkunku in the penalty area. He makes space and slips in Poulsen, but Yussi can’t strike the ball and Dortmund clear.
52nd minute, goal for Dortmund:
Meunier plays a pass behind the defence. Reus remains composed and beats Gulácsi to equalise. 1-1.
56th minute:
Szoboszlai shoots from long range. It’s a powerful effort but he can’t direct it goalwards.
59th minute:
RBL substitution: Forsberg comes on. Henrichs makes way.
60th minute:
Double chance! An Nkunku header from a corner is saved by Kobel, who then also saves Szoboszlai's rebound.
64th minute:
Post! Nkunku with two spectacular roulettes to beat two defenders before making space for himself. He shoots on the turn and beats the goalkeeper, but the ball hits the post and bounces clear. What a goal that would have been!
68th minute, GOOOAAAL for RB Leipzig:
Back in front! Szoboszlai plays Nkunku on the left, who crosses brilliantly towards the back post. Poulsen arrives just at the right time and finishes from close range. 2-1!
69th minute:
The goalscorer is leaving the field to fantastic applause. Poulsen is off and Silva comes on in a like-for-like change.
72nd minute:
Forsberg is played through in the area by Szoboszlai. He drives forward and tries to cut back to Silva, but Kobel intercepts the cross.
73rd minute:
Almost 3-1! Mukiele heads in at the back post, but the France international was offside. Keep going, boys!
84th minute:
Double change for the Red Bulls: Haidara and Nkunku take a deserved rest, with Olmo and Laimer on to see out the win.
87th minute:
Dortmund attack down the left. A sharp ball into the area isn’t properly cleared, then Bellingham’s shot is blocked for a corner.
91st minute:
Kobel slips when clearing under pressure from Adams. Tyler latches on to the free ball but his touch is a little too heavy and the goalkeeper dives to reclaim possession.
Full time:
YES! A well-deserved 2-1 victory for Jesse Marsch’s side. 56% of duels won, more shots on goal and more possession against a top team like Dortmund. A quality and aggressive performance is rewarded with three points. Christopher Nkunku was outstanding again, registering a goal and an assist. Another victory and up to fifth place in the table.