RB Leipzig won the prevented top game of the 11th matchday against Borussia Dortmund 2-1 (1-0). The runner-up won deservedly in front of 40,000 spectators and, thanks to the fifth win of the season, is back in the Champions League. BVB, on the other hand, suffered a severe setback in the title race.
Christopher Nkunku (29th) and Yussuf Poulsen (68th) scored the goals for the strong hosts, Marco Reus had arranged for BVB to equalize in the meantime (52nd).
Three days after the 1: 3 in the Champions League against Ajax, it was the second major defeat for Borussia in a trend-setting game.
RB Leipzig – BVB: The analysis
Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch left it at 3-4-2-1, as last, and thus reflected the arrangement of Borussia, which also acted again with a three-man chain in the last line – including Marin Pongracic, about whom there was recently some fuss would have.
There was absolutely nothing to be seen of BVB in the first 30 or 35 minutes. Leipzig ran and pushed the guests from one embarrassment to the next, had several high ball wins and thus also chances to switch. As so often in the last few weeks, however, the necessary efficiency was lacking in the end to reward yourself accordingly for an enormous amount of effort.
Dortmund barely made it over the center line in a controlled manner, let alone near the Leipzig penalty area. Without Erling Haaland, BVB could never seriously threaten the depth against high-ranking Leipzigers. After just under half an hour, it was the receipt for a weak start phase when Nkunku took his third big chance.
Dortmund was a bit more agile as a result and better at resolving tight game situations, but Jude Bellingham’s only shot on goal in the first half was aimed at his own team-mate Donyell Malen from a few meters. Leipzig, on the other hand, slowed down a bit of speed and sharpness and allowed itself a little rest over longer periods of ball possession – but without losing basic control over the game.
Dortmund’s coach Marco Rose reacted during the break, took Pongracic off the field, brought in Ansgar Knauff an attacker and switched to a back four. The second half started like the first: Leipzig pushed forward vehemently, literally constricted BVB and had chances to score. Out of nowhere, therefore, the equalizer fell after a cream pass from Thomas Meunier to Marco Reus.
Now a fairly open game developed with an overweight for Leipzig, but also opportunities on both sides – although the hosts had better opportunities here too. BVB was lucky a few times and once again had a strong Gregor Kobel who prevented some impacts. With Poulsen’s shot from four meters, Kobel was also powerless.
Dortmund made another offensive change in the final phase, but hardly came to any reasonable deals against concentrated hosts.
With his 102nd Bundesliga goal for BVB, Marco Reus draws fourth place in Dortmund’s eternal BL top scorer list with Stephane Chapuisat.
Leipzigs Poulsen scored for the first time in three Bundesliga games in a row.
The star of the game: Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
With and without the ball, the attacker was a nightmare for Dortmund’s defensive team. He played BVB with his dribbling sparsely dizzy, scored a goal, prepared the 2-1. The only drawback of an otherwise strong performance: Nkunku should have scored more than just this one goal.
The flop of the game: Donyell Malen (BVB)
It still jams and crunches with the Dutchman. Malen was partly without any connection to the game and was never able to prevail against the brawny Leipzig defenders in his few scenes. Until the substitution after 72 minutes with only 21 ball contacts, without shot on goal or template.
The referee: Felix Zwayer
Had a fast, combat-oriented game well under control, made no serious mistakes. But again without a real line in the personal penalties: The yellow cards against Bellingham and Adams were overdone – while he let Nkunku get away without warning after a few seconds for a much harder boarding.
