RB Leipzig kick off Bundesliga campaign with 1-1 draw in Stuttgart
Matchday 1 ends in 1-1 draw in Stuttgart | Nkunku and Ahamada on the scoresheet | RBL don't reward themselves for attacking performance
The points are shared in the opening game. RB Leipzig kicked off their 2022/23 Bundesliga season with a 1-1 draw away against VfB Stuttgart. Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring for Domenico Tedesco’s side (8’), before Naouirou Adamada replied for the home side (31’).
RBL were dominant from the opening stages and could have gone ahead even earlier through chances to Lukas Klostermann (3’) and Nkunku (6’). Christo was successful two minutes later, finishing off a good pass from Dani Olmo to give his side the lead. Klostermann then went close afterwards but VfB goalkeeper Florian Müller produced a good save (12’).
The home side found the equaliser after half an hour when Naouirou Ahamada received a pass from Sasa Kalajdzic before finishing into the bottom corner (31’). Stuttgart almost took the lead on the stroke of half time but Konstantinos Mavropanos’ shot struck the post (45+3’).
After an even 15 minutes in the second half, Leipzig controlled the play in the final half an hour. Nkunku had efforts to regain the lead (66’, 68’), before goalkeeper Müller pulled off a string of good saves to keep the scores level, notably after efforts from André Silva (71’) and Willi Orban (72’). Silva (82’) and Dominik Szoboszlai (90+2’) came close again but were unable to find a winning goal. After a goalless second half, the scores remained 1-1 at the full time whistle.
MATCH STATISTICS:
VFB STUTTGART:
Müller - Anton, Endo (C), Vagnoman, Mavropanos, Kalajdzic (64' Churlinov), Tomas (76' Mola), Silas (90' Perea), Ito, Führich (77' Millot), Ahamada (90' Karazor)
Unused subs: Bredlow, Stenzel, Pfeiffer, Egloff
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi (C) - Orbán, Olmo (85' Forsberg), Klostermann, Nkunku, Silva (85' Sörloth), Raum, Halstenberg (85' Gvardiol), Novoa (81' Simakan), Henrichs, Kampl (58' Szoboszlai)
Unused subs: Blaswich - Haidara, Schlager, Ba
GOALS:
0-1 Nkunku (8'), 1-1 Ahamada (31')
YELLOW CARDS:
Silas (64'), Mola (90'+4) | Tedesco (19'), Sörloth (87')
REFEREE:
Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)
ATTENDANCE:
48,000 | Mercedes-Benz-Arena, Stuttgart
MATCHDAY FACTS:
- Christopher Nkunku’s goal was RB Leipzig’s 400th goal in the Bundesliga.
- Nkunku scored his 14th Bundesliga goal of 2022. Only Robert Lewandowski has scored more (16).
- After nine games against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, VfB Stuttgart have never been in a winning position.
- Dominik Szoboszlai was the fastest player in the game, recording a top speed of 34.33 km/h.
- Willi Orban won the most duels on the pitch (9).
- New signing David Raum covered the most distance (11.3 km).
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
1st minute:
Kick off in Stuttgart. Let's go!
3rd minute:
First chance for RBL. Some good work from Dani Olmo before the ball lands with Lukas Klostermann but his shot is blocked.
6th minute:
Christopher Nkunku breaks into the area but then hits a curling effort over the bar.
8th minute, GOOAAL for Leipzig:
1-0! Benjamin Henrichs delivers a great ball into the box, where Olmo finds Nkunku. He makes no mistake and slips into the bottom corner.
12th minute:
Almost the second goal! Klostermann’s header is saved by Florian Müller.
18th minute:
Silas breaks through but misses the target when bearing down on Peter Gulácsi. The flag goes up for offside.
19th minute:
Gulácsi makes no mistake with a long-range effort from Christ Führich. That’s the home side’s first real chance.
22nd minute:
Olmo with a shot from distance but Müller holds.
31st minute, GOAL for Stuttgart:
Naouirou Ahamada equalises for Stuttgart, finishing into the bottom corner after receiving a ball from Sasa Kalajdzic.
35th minute:
Good response from Domenico Tedesco’s side. Olmo powers an effort goalwards but it’s over the bar.
41st minute:
A Stuttgart corner finds Kalajdzic but his header is off target.
42nd minute:
VfB hit on the break but Führich shoots over the bar from outside the area.
45+3rd minute:
Konstantinos Mavropanos goes on a solo run and fires a short goalwards. Leipzig are saved by the post.
Half time:
The two sides go into the break with the scores level. After Leipzig dominated the first half an hour, the home side came into the game more after equalising.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
46th minute:
Back under way at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
49th minute:
Josha Vagnoman finds himself in space in the Leipzig area but hits a bouncing ball over the bar.
54th minute:
Nkunku beats defenders with a good ruin before being fouled in midfield.
60th minute:
Tiago Tomas to looks bear down one-on-one but a brilliant and clean slide tackle from Klostermann relieves the danger.
66th minute:
Olmo and André Silva link up before Nkunku shoots, but Müller parries.
68th minute:
Christo with another chance and Müller with another save.
71st minute:
Another chance! Olmo plays a great ball into the area and Silva gets a shot off under pressure. Müller is there again to save.
72nd minute:
Goalkeeper Müller saves the home side again, diving low to his left to save an Orban header.
76th minute:
Olmo shoots from distance but it’s over the bar.
82nd minute:
Leipzig hit on the counter attack and Silva shoots, but can’t get it on target.
89th minute:
Substitute Joško Gvardiol shoots from outside the area but Mavropanos blocks.
90+2nd minute:
Dominik Szoboszlai with a well-struck effort from outside the area, but it goes narrowly wide of the post.