Emil Forsberg helps Leipzig to 3-1 victory against Hoffenheim
Three points in our last home game of the year | Our number 10 scores after only being on the pitch for three minutes | Lukas Klostermann and Mohamed Simakan also on the scoresheet
A perfect ending for Emil!
On matchday 15 of the Bundesliga season, RB Leipzig defeated TSG Hoffenheim 3-1 to secure three vital points in the race for the top four.
Leipzig started the game on the front foot, with Yussuf Poulsen (2') and Xavi (13', 17') having early chances. Hoffenheim started to apply some pressure, before Lukas Klostermann took advantage of a scrappy situation to put us ahead (34'). Hoffenheim would equalise through Ozan Kabak's header in the 42nd minute, and the scores were level as both sides headed into the dressing rooms at half time.
Xavi hit the post right at the start of the second half, before Emil Forsberg raised the roof with his goal in the 66th minute. Mo Simakan put the icing on the cake by scoring our third with just over 15 minutes to go, as he pounced on a rebound from David Raum's corner to give us a two-goal lead (74'). On his final home appearance for RBL, Emil was the hero!
Bundesliga | RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim
Line-ups
RBL: Blaswich - Henrichs, Klostermann, Simakan (83' Castello Jr.), Raum - Haidara (58' Kampl), Schlager - Baumgartner (66' Forsberg), Xavi (83' Carvalho) - Openda (83' Šeško), Poulsen (C)
TSG: Baumann - Kabak (75' Akpoguma), Brooks, Vogt - Kadeřábek (90' Nsoki), Stach (75' Bischof), Skov (46' Grillitsch) - Prömel, Kramarić – Bebou (69' Beier), Bülter
RBL unused subs: Gulácsi (GK) - Lenz, Werner, Seiwald
TSG unused subs: Philipp (GK) – Becker, Tohumcu, Szalai
Goals
1-0 Klostermann (34'), 1-1 Kabak (42'), 2-1 Forsberg (70'), 3-1 Simakan (74')
Yellow cards
Haidara (40'), Xavi (62'), Klostermann (80') | Ozan Kabak (62'), Grillitsch (90+3')
Officials
- Referee: Robert Schröder (Hannover)
- First assistant: Norbert Grudzinski (Hamburg)
- Second assistant: Jan Clemens Neitzel-Petersen (Norderstedt)
- Fourth official: Florian Badstübner (Nürnberg)
- Video assistant: Benjamin Brand (Schwebheim)
- VAR assistant: Christof Günsch (Darmstadt)
Attendance
42,946 at the Red Bull Arena
2nd minute: Poulsen heads over
RBL have the first big chance of the game. A corner is whipped in towards the six-yard box, where Yussuf Poulsen. Our number 9 connects well with the ball, but it goes just over the bar.
17th minute: Baumann denies Xavi
Amadou Haidara lays the ball off to Xavi, who cuts inside and tries to curl it into the top right corner. Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann is alert to the danger and parries the ball to safety.
25th minute: Right place, right time
Hoffenheim have two chances in quick succession. Ilhas Bebou drives into the box and fires just wide, before Janis Blaswich makes a save to deny Andrej Kramaric.
34th minute: Klostermann breaks the deadlock!
RBL take the lead! A dangerous-looking free-kick is whipped into the box and Yussuf Poulsen heads goalwards. The ball deflects off a Hoffenheim player into the path of Mo Simakan. Our defender misses, but then the ball falls to an unmarked Lukas Klostermann, who pokes home to put us in front!
42nd minute: Kabak with the equaliser
Another goal from a set-piece, but this time it’s the visitors’ turn. Janis Blaswich comes to claim a Robert Skov free-kick, but he’s beaten to the ball by Ozan Kabak, who heads into the empty net to level things up again.
50th minute: Xavi hits the post!
Xavi picks up the ball on the edge of the box and shapes to curl it into the corner, but it crashes off the post and the scores stay level!
66th minute: Forsberg enters the fray
Emil Forsberg is brought on to a standing ovation from the Leipzig fans. Our number 10 should help us to turn this game around.
70th minute: Forsberg scores!
Emil Forsberg has only just come on and he's made it 2-1! Lois Openda gives the ball to the Swede on the right hand side of the box. He controls it wonderfully, before smashing it past Baumann to put us back in front!
74th minute: Simakan adds another!
You can't keep Emil out of the game! David Raum whips a corner in, which Forsberg flicks on. Baumann reacts brilliantly to keep his effort out, but Mohamed Simakan is there to convert the rebound and give us a two-goal cushion.
90 +3rd minute: Grillitsch is sent off... or is he?
Florian Grillitsch tackles Yussuf Poulsen from behind and is initially shown a red card by the referee. However, he reverses his decision after consulting the pitchside monitor and books the midfielder instead.
