RB Leipzig fight to 2-0 win over Wolfsburg
Willi Orban (76’) and Joško Gvardiol (84’) with goals for the Red Bulls
RB Leipzig defeated VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 on Matchday 20 of the Bundesliga season. Willi Orban (74’) and Joško Gvardiol (84‘) scored the two goals for Domenico Tedesco’s team.
The Red Bulls controlled the opening phases and enjoyed more possession, but the visitors held strong at the back. The first moment of danger came through Hugo Novoa, who was making his first league start, in the 18th minute. The forward powered an effort towards goal but found his match in Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels. Wolfsburg looked to hurt Leipzig at set pieces and counter attacks and Aster Vranckx came close to breaking the deadloack twice (39’ and 40’) but Péter Gulácsi was on hand.
RBL improved over the course of the second half and pinned the visitors in their own half. Willi Orban found the back of the net in the 57th minute, but the offside flag was up. Christopher Nkunku (64’) and Kevin Kampl (69’) then saw efforts go narrowly wide. In the 76th minute, the deadlock was finally broken, Willi Orban heading in for the second time after André Silva’s header bounced back off the woodwork. Eight minutes later, birthday boy Joško Gvardiol rewarded himself with the perfect gift with a chip over Casteels to double the lead (84‘).
The third league win of the calendar year takes Domenico Tedesco’s side to 31 points in sixth place, three points adrift of fourth-placed Union Berlin.
Statistics:
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi - Simakan (74' Mukiele), Orban, Gvardiol - Henrichs (55' Klostermann), Laimer (56' Adams), Kampl, Angeliño - Nkunku (81' Poulsen) - Silva, Novoa (55' Olmo)
Unused subs: Martínez, Tschauner, Poulsen, Szoboszlai, Mukiele, Raebiger
VFL WOLFSBURG:
Casteels - Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks - Baku, Gerhardt (79' F. Nmecha), Arnold, Roussillon - Vranckx (79' Lukébakio), Waldschmidt - Weghorst
Unused subs: Pervan, van de Ven, Mbabu, Guilavogui, Philipp, Bialek, Ginczek
REFEREE:
Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
YELLOW CARDS:
Simakan (34'), Henrichs (37'), Kampl (67'), Olmo (73'), Adams (82') - Lacroix (59')
GOALS:
1-0 Orban (76'), 2-0 Gvardiol (84')
ATTENDACE:
1,000 | Red Bull Arena
First half highlights:
1st minute:
Underway in the Red Bull Arena! Let’s go, RBL!
5th minute:
The Red Bulls have enjoyed the better start, but there hasn’t been any chance to speak of.
10th minute:
The team have looked to attack down the wings, but crosses have lacked accuracy so far.
14th minute:
Nearly! Novoa receives a deep ball down the right and puts a dangerous cross into the box, but Lacroiy is able to beat Nkunku to the ball to clear.
18th minute:
Hugo with another moment of danger! The winger is in space after another long ball and shoots with his right foot from the edge of the area. Casteels is able to save.
22nd minute:
The guests are defending well, but are ineffective at the other end. They’ve been unable to register a shot so far.
35th minute:
Wolfsburg cross from the right. Bornauw meets it with his head, but it goes harmlessly over the bar.
39th minute:
Vranckx shoots from a direct free kick, but Gulácsi gets down quickly to save. That’s Wolfsburg’s first shot of the match.
40th minute:
Baku cuts back from the right towards Roussillon, who doesn’t make proper contact with the ball and it falls to Vranckx.
Half time:
RBL began the better of the two sides and Hugo Novoa caused some problems for the visitors, but Woflsburg came into the game later in the half through set pieces and counter attacks. All to play for in the second half.
Second half highlights:
46th minute:
Underway for the second half.
50th minute:
Another intense half of football, surely there’s a goal coming: RBL have not had a goalless draw this season.
55th minute:
Triple change from the coach: Olmo, Adams and Klostermann are on for Novoa, Laimer and Henrichs.
57th minute:
Offside! Silva gets the ball in the area after a Leipzig free kick, and he finds Gvardiol. The ball gets through to Orban and his shot is blocked, but the centre back is able to turn home the rebound from close range. The goal doesn’t stand as Gvardiol was judged to be offside for Silva’s pass.
64th minute:
RBL are by far the better side but have not been able to create any clear scoring opportunities. Nkunku tries a long-range free kick but misses the target.
66th minute:
Baku tries a shot from distance, but Gulácsi saves.
69th minute:
Weghorst gives the ball away to Silva and our forward finds Kampl on the edge of the area, but his shot just misses to the left of the post.
74th minute:
Mukiele comes on for Simakan. Klostermann shifts across to centre back and Nordi will play at right wing back.
76th minute, GOOOAAAL for Leipzig:
Olmo gets to the byline down the right and chips the ball into the area towards Silva. André heads back across goal and it drops and bounces back off the bar. Willi Orban is the quickest to react and dives to head home from close range! 1-0!
81st minute:
Poulsen is on. Nkunku makes way.
84th minute, GOOAAL for Leipzig:
Mukiele plays a fantastic ball from the right into the path of Gvardiol, who is bearing down on goal in plenty of space. Our defender produces a beautiful chip over the onrushing Casteels to double the lead!
Full time:
The points are staying in Leipzig! Domenico Tedesco’s side claim their fourth win from four in all competitions in January and are now three points off the Champions League places.