RBL fall to disappointing defeat against Frankfurt

Not the best start to 2024!

Frankfurt looked lively at the start of the game and took an early lead. Ansgar Knauff latched onto a fantastic low cross into the box to put SGE in front with the first shot of the game (7'). RBL managed to shake off the shock of going behind early on quickly, however, and started to dominate the game. Benjamin Sesko couldn't quite connect with Lois Openda's pass in the 17th minute, before the Slovenia international fired just past the post half an hour later.

An equaliser seemed increasingly likely as the away side became more and more passive under the mounting RBL pressure. Lois Openda had the next noteworthy opportunity, but Kevin Trapp was equal to the Belgian's effort (35').

RB Leipzig picked up where they left off in the second half. Xavi picked up the ball and jinked his way into the Frankfurt box, where he laid it off to Lois. Our number 17 blazed his shot over the bar, however, and the chance went begging. The close shave seemed to wake Frankfurt up and Mario Götze was inches away from extending the guests' lead (57'). Lois Openda was back in the thick of things a few minutes later, as Kevin Trapp tipped the Belgian's powerful header over the crossbar (65').

Trapp continued to be a nuisance for RBL and ensured that his team held onto the lead for the remainder of the game despite more promising opportunities falling to Leipzig's attackers.
 

Bundesliga | RB Leipzig – Eintracht Frankfurt

LINE UPS

RBL: Blaswich - Klostermann, Simakan (87' Castello Jr.), Raum, Henrichs (87' Elmas) – Kampl (C), Schlager, Xavi, Baumgartner (67' Olmo) – Sesko (67' Poulsen), Openda

SGE: Trapp (C) - Pacho, Koch, Kalajdzic (62' Ngankam), Larsson, van de Beek (62' Buta), Dina Ebimbe (72' Jakic), Götze (84' Hauge), Nkounkou, Tuta, Knauff 

RBL unused subs: Gulacsi (GK), Lenz, Bitshiabu, Seiwald, Eduardo

SGE unused subs: Grahl (GK), Smolcic, Hasebe, Aaronson, Max
 

Goal

0-1 Knauff (7')
 

YELLOW CARDS

Dina Ebimbe (41'), Larsson (90+4')
 

OFFICIALS

Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück)

First assistant: Guido Kleve (Nordhorn)

Second assistant: Arne Aarnink (Bochum)

Fourth official: Max Burda (Berlin)

Video assistant: Günther Perl (Pullach)
 

ATTENDANCE

45,867 at the Red Bull Arena
 

7th minute: Knauff gives Frankfurt the lead

• Not the start we wanted. Niels Nkounkou drives down the wing and whips a fantastic ball towards the back post. Ansgar Knauff charges into the box and slots the ball coolly into the back of the net to put SGE in front.
   

17th minute: Chance spurned

• What an opportunity! Lois Openda does brilliantly to get past Robin Koch and sprints towards the visitors’ penalty area. He lays the ball off to strike partner Benjamin Sesko, but the Slovenian doesn’t connect powerfully enough with his shot and the chance goes begging.
   

29th minute: Sesko goes close again

• RBL are dominating the game and getting closer and closer to equalising. Willian Pacho puts in a last-ditch tackle to stop an Openda-led counter, but Sesko gets to the loose ball first. He feints past his man and lets fly, but his effort whistles just past the post.
   

35th minute: Trapp denies Openda

• Christoph Baumgartner plays a beautiful ball to put Lois Openda in behind. Our number 17 gets a shot off, but is denied by Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp.
   

47th minute: Big chance for Openda

• RBL start the second half well and look to be positive straight away. Xavi dances into the Frankfurt box and passes to Lois Openda, whose shot flies over the bar.
   

57th minute: Götze pokes over

• Frankfurt have also started the second 45 with a spring in their step, Niels Nkounkou has the ball at his feet once again and pings it across the face of goal. Mario Götze is unmarked in the middle, but he can’t quite get enough on the ball and his shot loops over the bar.
   

65th minute: Openda tests Trapp again

• The Belgian is right in the thick of things once again, as he heads goalwards from David Raum’s corner. Kevin Trapp is in the right place at the right time and manages to tip the ball over for a corner.
   

70th minute: Dangerous-looking corner

• The pressure on Frankfurt is building as RBL search for an equaliser. Benjamin Henrichs swings a corner towards the near post, but Trapp does just enough to get it away from danger. It’s Leipzig’s 12th corner of the game.
   

86th minute: Final push

The boys are giving it their all, but time is running out. Frankfurt are sitting back and soaking up the pressure.