Hard-fought win in Darmstadt! RBL win 3-1 at the Böllenfalltor

RBL made to work hard in Darmstadt!

44 seconds into the game at the Bollenfalltor and the ball was already in the Darmstadt net. Benny Henrichs, who was back in the starting XI after being sidelined with muscle problems, made his way towards the hosts' box with pace and played a perfectly-timed through-ball to Lois Openda. Our attacker didn't need to be asked twice before slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner to give RBL the lead. It was the fastest Bundesliga goal this season.

RBL carried on causing problems for the hosts and Emil Forsberg doubled Leipzig's lead after 24 minutes - his free kick from 20 yards out snuck into the far corner of the goal. SVD got a goal back in the 32nd minute through Tobias Kempe's penalty, which was awarded after a foul committed by Kevin Kampl.

The Lilies continued to make it hard for our boys in the second half and Benny Henrichs worked to create chances down the right in attempt to restore RBL’s two-goal lead. The end of the game was highly chaotic; Openda put the ball into the back of the net, but the goal was only given after a long VAR check (75’). RBL could have added to their tally in the final stages of the game, but it ended as a hard-earned 3-1 victory.
 

Bundesliga | SV Darmstadt 98 – RB Leipzig

LINE-UPS

SVD: Schuhen - Maglica, Mehlem, Kempe, Klarer (64' Gjasula), Nürnberger, Müller, Pfeiffer (64' Hornby), Skarke, Vilhelmsson (64' Honsak), Holland (57' Schnellhardt)

RBL: Blaswich - Henrichs (62' Klostermann), Simakan, Castello Jr., Raum - Haidara (62' Seiwald), Kampl (C),  Xavi (80' Olmo), Forsberg (62' Baumgartner) - Poulsen, Openda (80' Werner)

SVD bench: Behrens, Zimmermann, Müller, Ronstadt, Franjic

RBL bench: Gulacsi, Lenz, Carvalho, Sesko

GOALS

0-1 Openda (1'), 0-2 Forsberg (24'), 1-2 Kempe (32' penalty), 1-3 (75' Openda)

YELLOW CARDS

SVD: Holland (46'), Klarer (50'), Nürnberger (60'), Skarke (67'),  Maglica (68'), Müller (71') | RBL: Raum (63'), Openda (69'), Kampl (79')
 

SQUAD UPDATE

• Xaver Schlager was rested for the game and didn't travel to Darmstadt as a result.
   

OFFICIALS

Referee: Harm Osmers (Hannover)

First assistant: Robert Kempter (Stockach)

Second assistant: Thorben Siewer (Olpe)

Fourth official: Wolfgang Haslberger (Bayerischer FV)

First video assistant: Sven Jablonski (Bremen) 

Second video assistant: Markus Sinn (Filderstadt)

ATTENDANCE

17,810 (sold out)
 

1st minute: Lightning fast from Openda!

What a start! Benjamin Henrichs advances towards the box and plays a ball through to Lois Openda. The Belgian takes our left-back’s pass in his stride and slides the ball into the far corner to put RBL 1-0 up after 44 seconds!
 

12th minute: Superb save from Blaswich

Pfeiffer tries his luck after Castello Jr. is unable to clear the ball, but Janis Blaswich shows off his cat-like reflexes and parries the shot away to keep RBL in front.
 

24th minute: Forsberg doubles our lead!

Benny Henrichs is brought down on the edge of the box. Emil Forsberg steps up and slots the free-kick home from around 18 yards out. The Lilies’ keeper Schuhen gets down in time but the Swede’s effort creeps under him and into the bottom-right corner.
 

32nd minute: Darmstadt get one back from the spot

Kevin Kampl tries to clear the ball but connects with Darmstadt’s Kempe instead. The referee points to the spot and Kempe converts to bring the Lilies back within one.
 

39th minute: RBL try to re-establish control

Darmstadt are looking dangerous and the goal has boosted their confidence. They’re playing long balls forward time and again and looking to get the ball straight into the box when they’ve got possession on the wings. The RBL boys are keeping things tight in the middle of  the park and are trying to hit the hosts on the counter.
 

49th minute: Darmstadt go close

The Lilies get off to a flying start in the second half. Pfeiffer wins the ball off Castello Jr. and shoots from close range, but his effort goes narrowly past the post.
 

60th minute: Forsberg works his magic

Emil jinks his way down the wing and plays a wonderful one-two with Xavi before laying the ball off to an unmarked Openda. Unfortunately, it turns out that our number 17 is offside.
 

75th minute: Openda scores, but does it count?!

Openda slots the ball into the bottom-left corner before the linesman indicates that the Belgian was offside. The goal is eventually given after a lengthy VAR check and our two-goal cushion is restored. RBL then go on the attack again after the restart and almost get a fourth.
 

80th minute: Olmo makes his comeback

After six weeks on the sidelines, Dani Olmo finally returned to action for RB Leipzig. He showed exactly why we missed him shortly after he was brought on, with his free-kick going just over the bar. Good to have you back, Dani!