RB Leipzig draw 2-2 at home in first leg against Real Sociedad
First leg of Europa League tie ends in a draw | Christo and Emil each equalise | Decider to be played next Thursday
A strong performance with only a draw to show for it. RB Leipzig came from behind twice to draw 2-2 against Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Europa League first knockout round. Robin Le Normand opened the scoring for the guests (8’), before Christopher Nkunku scored the deserved equaliser (30’). Each side converted a penalty in the second half, with Mikel Oyarzabal’s goal (64’) being cancelled out by an Emil Forsberg spot kick (82’).
Sociedad took the lead with their first shot of the game. The ball found its way to Le Normand in the box, whose deflected shot wrong-footed Péter Gulácsi to open the scoring (8’). The Red Bulls showed a good response: Angeliño saw his shot was blocked before his cross was headed home by Nkunku (30’) and the two sides went into the break unable to be separated at 1-1.
Christo also had the first chance of the second half with a long-range shot. Sociedad’s Portu almost gave his side the lead again after a corner, but his close-range effort was blocked off the line by Benjamin Henrichs (61’). Moments later, a VAR check awarded a penalty kick to the visitors for a handball by Joško Gvardiol. Oyarzabal stepped up and converted to restore his side’s lead. At the other end, substitute Forsberg tested goalkeeper Matthew Ryan from outside the area, before finding the back of the net from the penalty spot (82’) after Dominik Szoboszlai was brought down in the area.
Statistics:
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi (C) - Simakan, Angeliño, Adams (46' Henrichs), Klostermann, Nkunku (80' Szoboszlai), Olmo (80' Poulsen), Laimer (63' Forsberg), Gvardiol, Silva, Kampl (86' Haidara)
Unused subs: Martínez, Tschauner, Mukiele, Novoa
REAL SOCIEDAD:
Ryan - Zaldua, Zubeldua, Aritz, Portu, Merino (90'+6 Illaramendi), Oyarzabal (C) (90'+6 Martín), Rico (61' Muñoz), Rafinha (77' Pacheco), Sørloth, Le Normand
Unused subs: Remiro, Marrero, Guridi, Guevara, Gorosabel, Silva, Djouahra
REFEREE:
Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey)
GOALS:
0-1 Le Normand (8'), 1-1 Nkunku (30'), 1-2 Oyarzabal (64' penalty), Forsberg (82', penalty)
ATTENDANCE:
21,113 | RB Arena
First half highlights
1st minute:
Let's go! We kick off in our white home kit with white shorts and socks, with Real Sociedad in dark red.
4th minute:
First corner: A move including Angeliño, Dani Olmo, Kevin Kampl and Tyler Adams unfortunately comes to nothing.
8th minute, goal for Real Sociedad:
The visitors take an early lead. Robin Le Normand is free in the area and shoots on goal. A deflection helps the ball past Pete.
14th minute:
Good chance! Angeliño gets the ball on the left and shoots with his left, but his effort is blocked.
30th minute, GOOOAAL for Leipzig:
There's the equaliser! Angeliño crosses from the left into the penalty spot and Christopher Nkunku heads into the bottom right corner.
38th minute:
Despite 66% possession a 7-1 shots on goal balance, the scores are still level at 1-1.
Half-time:
We go into the break with nothing between the two sides at 1-1. After going behind early, Domenico Tedesco’s side answered through Christo Nkunku and have been the more promising side overall.
Second half highlights
46th minute:
Once change at the break. Benjamin Henrichs comes on for Tyler Adams.
54th minute:
RBL are applying the pressure once again. Christo tests Real Sociedad goalkeeper Matthew Ryan with a long-range shot, but the goalkeeper makes no mistake.
61st minute:
Big chance for Sociedad from a corner. The ball gets through to the far post and Portu tries to finish from close range, but Henrichs is able to block on the goal line.
62nd minute:
Penalty for Real Sociedad. Josko Gvardiol's handled the ball from a corner. VAR checks and awards the penalty.
64th minute, goal for Real Sociedad:
Mikel Oyarzabal with a powerful left-footed shot to the right. Péter Gulácsi dives the other way.
66th minute:
Emil Forsberg is on and tries his luck from outside the area, but Ryan saves again.
75th minute:
A great ball from Olmo sees Christo through behind the denfece, but his final touch shows too much of the ball to the goalkeeper, who dives on it.
80th minute:
Penalty kick for us! Dominik Szoboszlai, who has just come into the game, feigns a shot and goes the other way. Defender Zaldua brings him down.
82nd minute, GOAL for Leipzig:
Emil makes no mistake! Our number ten steps up, keeps his cool and slots into the left corner, sending Ryan the wrong way.
88th minute:
So nearly! André Silva taps in from a yard out, but Benni Henrichs, who played the ball, was offside.
Full time:
Six minutes of added time are up and the two sides can’t be separated. All to play for in San Sebastian next week.