Pomadig, flawed, no chance: RB Leipzig is still miles behind its claims in the Bundesliga. Coach Domenico Tedesco’s team deservedly lost 4-0 (2-0) at feared opponents Eintracht Frankfurt and let the top group rush with five points from five games early in the season.
At the start of the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday (9 p.m.), a significant increase is needed.
On the other hand, the Europa League champion gained a lot of self-confidence for the premiere in the premier class against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday (6.45 p.m.). Daichi Kamada (16th), Sebastian Rode (22nd), Tuta (67th) and Rafael Borre (84th, penalty kick) ensured the first league home win since March 13th. Leipzig remained without a win in the eighth attempt on the Main.
Tedesco vigorously warned his team. The Sieglosserie in the Hessian metropolis have “good reasons,” said the 36-year-old: “If they have rooms, they are crazy.” And that’s exactly why he sent his A-Elf back onto the field after the massive rotation in the 8-0 win against Teutonia Ottensen in the DFB Cup, with top scorer Christopher Nkunku and captain Peter Gulacsi returning, among others.
The game started with an early shock for RB. Dani Olmo unfortunately buckled his knee in the duel, Emil Forsberg replaced him after eleven minutes. It only got worse shortly afterwards, because Eintracht struck with the first successful attack. Mario Götze crossed perfectly before Kamada pushed Randal Kolo Muani’s header over the line.
RB Leipzig: Domenico Tedesco changes tactically
Leipzig seemed very nervous. The combination game stuttered offensively, defensively important duels were lost. After a whole series of such duels, Willi Orban deflected a harmless shot from Rode intolerably. After half an hour, Tedesco switched to a back four and a diamond in midfield – but it didn’t help much at first.
Because the Hessians acted much more gallant, were always the famous step faster. Leipzig had no chance to score in the first half. At the break, Dominik Szoboszlai was an additional offensive player and thus more momentum. Nkunku (50′) missed a good first opportunity, while Kolo Muani (52′) and Götze (59′) both missed out on the other side.
In the second round, Leipzig gained a majority of ball possession. But the Frankfurters threw themselves defensively into every duel and continued to act more purposefully offensively. Tuta uses a rebound after a shot from the powerful Götze. Ex-Frankfurter Andre Silva came to Leipzig, but there were few chances. Borre kept his nerve from the point.
Eintracht Frankfurt – RB Leipzig: The voices
Oliver Glasner (Eintracht Frankfurt coach): “Compliments to the team! It was a very good performance, especially defensively. We were wide awake. It’s a thoroughly deserved win. The lads were very disciplined, everyone was 100 percent on the defensive end. It was a very nice evening for us.”
Domenico Tedesco (RB Leipzig coach): “That was well deserved lost today. We completely missed the basics, weren’t even on the pitch in the first round. We weren’t aggressive at all. We lost the ball so quickly. We were terrible, a disaster. If you have three systems plays and nothing changes, it’s because of the mentality.”
Eintracht Frankfurt – RB Leipzig: The data of the game
