RBL draw 1-1 with SC Freiburg
Matchday 8 of the 2021/22 Bundesliga | RB Leipzig with first half lead thanks to Forsberg penalty | Jeong equalises for hosts | First Bundesliga match at the new Europa-Park Stadion
The points are shared in Freiburg. Despite a promising first half in which RBL took the lead, Jesse Marsch’s men allowed the visitors back in after half time and were made to do with a 1-1 draw.
It was a good first half on the road, Leipzig controlling the game with the exception of a big chance for Freiburg’s Woo-Yeong Jeong. The performance was rewarded with the lead when Emil Forsberg found the back of the net for the 50th time in an RBL shirt, converting from the spot after a controversial foul on Christopher Nkunku (32’). The home side never went away and almost equalised on the stroke of half time through Lucas Höler, whose shot against the post rebounded over the bar via the foot of Peter Gulacsi (45’).
The second half did not go as well. Jeong headed in the equaliser (62’) to cap a good spell for the home side. RBL had chances and came close to regaining the lead through André Silva (73’) and Christopher Nkunku (83’), but the Freiburg defence was resolute and held firm. With the game drawing to a close, it was Christian Streich’s men who looked more likely to take all three points. A world-class save from Pete Gulácsi (85’) and the post (89’) came to Leipzig’s rescue, keeping the scores at 1-1 to deny Freiburg a dream start in their new home ground.
Statistics:
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi - Simakan, Orban, Klostermann, Gvardiol (78' Angelino) - Haidara, Forsberg (67' Silva), Szoboszlai (78' Mukiele), Nkunku, Kampl - Poulsen
Unused subs: Martinez, Henrichs, Laimer, Raebiger, Moriba, Novoa
SC FREIBURG:
Flekken – Gulde (46' Sallai; 80' Schade), Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck – Sildillia, Eggestein (90'+4 Keitel), Höfler, Günter – Jeong (75' Petersen), Höler, Grifo (90'+4 Demirović)
Unused subs: Uphoff, Heintz, K. Schlotterbeck, Haberer
Goals:
1-0 Forsberg (32', penalty), 1-1 Jeong (63')
Yellow Cards:
Haidara (44.), Gvardiol (57.), Simakan (85.), Mukiele (88.)
Referee:
Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
Stadium:
Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg
First half highlights:
1st minute:
Almost the perfect start! Emil Forsberg tests Mark Flekken early on, but the Freiburg goalkeeper makes no mistake and saves.
9th minute:
Christo Nkunku is showing his presence and finds Yussuf Poulsen on the right. He crosses to Dominik Szoboszlai but the Freiburg defence can turn behind for a corner.
12th minute:
Big chance for the hosts! Christian Günter attacks down the left and plays inside to Woo-Yeong Jeong, whose low shot goes wide of the post. Péter Gulácso was beaten.
18th minute:
Almost! Forsberg gets the ball on the edge of the area and slots past Mark Flekken but just wide of the far post.
23rd minute:
GOOOAAAL for RBL! Nkunku brings in the ball and turns on the edge of the area, going down under pressure from Schlotterbeck. Forsberg steps up and outwits Flekken, finishing colly into the bottom right corner. That’s goal number 50 in RBL colours for Emil!
42nd minute:
Szoboszlai with a neat backheel to Nkunku, who dinks a ball towards the back post – it bounces off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
43rd minute:
RBL looking to increase the lead! Yussuf Poulsen strikes from about 15 metres – Flekken saves.
45th minute:
Freiburg nearly level! Lucas Höler tries one from a narrow angle and the ball bounces back off the post! The rebound hits the foot of Gulácsi and bounces over the bar with Pete only able to watch on. Almost a freak equaliser!
Half time:
RBL with a deserved lead over hosts Freiburg in their new stadium. The home side have posed a threat, but Forsberg’s penalty splits the sides.
Second half highlights
49th minute:
Penalty shout for the hosts. Mohamed Simakan loses possession to Höler but runs back and recovers the ball. The Freiburg man goes down under the challenge but referee Siebert decides no penalty.
53rd minute:
Lukas Klostermann wins the ball on the right and attacks, crossing towards the middle. His ball is not accurate enough and misses Forsberg, however.
60th minute:
Equaliser! A Grifo cross finds an unmarked Jeong in the area. The attacker has lots of space and simply heads home from close range.
73rd minute:
RBL try to answer back! Szoboszlai delivers a quick low cross towards substitute André Silva, who is denied by a last minute deflection.
78th minute:
Angelino and Nordi Mukiele are on in place of Szoboszlai and Gvardiol as Jesse Marsch switches to a 3-5-2.
83rd minute:
Another RB chance! Angelino receives a high ball and volley back across goal. Nkunku makes contact but his effort is blocked by Leinart.
85th minute:
What a save from Pete! Höler with a header from point blank range. A diving Gulácsi produces a fine one-handed reaction stop.
89th minute:
An effort from Höler from the edge of the area beats Gulácsi but hits the post and bounces clear!
Full time:
The hosts come close late on but it ends even at the new Europa-Park Stadion.