RBL win 3-1 against Crvena zvezda!
Victory on matchday 3 of Champions League group phase | Xavi scores wonder goal against Serbian champions | Dani Olmo seals the deal in closing stages
Another hard-earned victory!
RB Leipzig put Serbian champions Crvena zvezda to the sword, running out as 3-1 winners on matchday 3 of the Champions League group stages. David Raum gave RBL the lead in the 12th minute, after Xavi won the ball back and played it through to our left-back, who nutmegged Zvezda's keeper to open the scoring.
The guests grew into the game after Leipzig's fast start and were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute. However, the on-field decision was overturned after a VAR check revealed that Castello Jr. hadn't fouled the Zvezda attacker.
Red Star also started the second half well, but Xavi's wonder goal from about 20 yards out was the perfect response to opposition pressure (59'). Red Star didn't let that phase them, however, as Marko Stamenic got one back for the Serbian side in the 70th minute. Substitute Dani Olmo sealed RBL's victory in the closing stages of the game with a close-range finish (84').
Champions League | RB Leipzig – Crvena Zvezda
Line-ups
RBL: Blaswich – Henrichs (58' Klostermann), Simakan, Lukeba Jr., Raum – Kampl, Schlager – Forsberg (58' Baumgartner), Xavi (75' Olmo) – Openda (82' Šeško), Poulsen (82' Werner)
ZVE: Glazer – Dragovic (C), Djiga, Rodic (65' Nedeljkovic) – Mijailovic, Ivanic, Hwang, Stamenic (81' Katai), Mitrovic (65' Lucic) – Ndiaye (65' Mijatovic), Olayinka (46' Bukari)
RBL bench: Gulácsi (GK), Lenz, Haidara, Seiwald, Carvalho
ZVE bench: Popovic (GK), Degenek, Spajic, Kanga, Kangwa, Kabic
Goals
1-0 Raum (12'), 2-0 Xavi (59'), 2-1 Stamenic (70'), 3-1 Olmo (84')
Yellow cards
Henrichs (28') | Stamenic (34'), Rodic (45+3'), Hwang (46'), Djiga (71')
Officials
- Referee: José Maria Sanchez Martinez (Spain)
- First assistant: Raul Cabanero Martinez (Spain)
- Second assistant: Inigo Prieto Lopez De Cerain (Spain)
- Fourth official: José Luis Munuera Montero (Spain)
- Video-assistant: Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Attendance
42,209
First Half
12th minute: Raum opens the scoring!
Our boys do well to win the ball in midfield to kick-start the attack. Emil Forsberg passes it to Xavi, who finds David Raum in space on the left of the penalty area. Our left-back’s shot finds its way through the legs Crvena zvezda's keeper to put us 1-0 up.
17th minute: Double chance for RBL
Yussuf Poulsen's effort is initially saved by Glazer. Red Star's keeper then has to pull out another reflex save to prevent the ball from going in off one of his own defenders.
28th minute: Penalty is overturned
The referee initially awards a penalty to Crvena zvezda after Peter Olayinka goes down in the box. However, after going to the monitor, the ref sees that Castello Jr. got the ball and overturns his original decision.
40th minute: RBL defence put to the test
After a strong start to the match for our boys, Crvena zvezda have grown into the game and are getting some possession further up the pitch, but our defensive line is solid and we don't give the opposition a sniff.
Second half
59th minute: Screamer from Xavi!
Our guests were on top at the start of the second 45, but RBL provide just the right answer: Xavi lets rip from around 20 yards out and the ball flies into the top-right corner of the goal.
70th minute: Crvena zvezda get a goal back
Our opponents halve the deficit. Dragovic’s initial effort from range is deflected. Stamenic bursts into the box and puts the rebound into the back of the net.
75th minute: Olmo is brought on
Marco Rose makes a change in attack: Dani Olmo replaces Xavi, who netted RBL’s second goal of the game. It could be a close end to the game, so fresh legs up front won’t do any harm.
84th minute: Olmo puts the game to bed
Get in! RBL restore their two-goal lead from a corner. The ball is up in the air and Christoph Baumgartner’s headed effort is denied by the crossbar. The ball then falls to Dani Olmo, who makes no mistake and finishes from close range.
