Coaches Marco Rose and RB Leipzig have won the duel of the “pretty best friends” with a bit of a daze and continue to climb towards the European Cup places. Against the capital club Hertha BSC, coached by Rose’s friend Sandro Schwarz, the DFB Cup winner trembled to a 3:2 (3:0) on Saturday after a clear lead.
Rose high-fived the professionals from RB Leipzig after the trembling victory in the duel of the “pretty best friends” with a calm expression before they celebrated together in the fan curve. Against the capital club Hertha BSC, coached by Rose’s friend Sandro Schwarz, the DFB Cup winner trembled to a 3:2 (3:0) on Saturday after a clear lead.
RB has been undefeated for five competitive games and with 15 points is only two points behind fourth place in the Champions League, the Berliners can at least refer to a grandiose morale.
Emil Forsberg (25th), David Raum (30th) and Willi Orban (45th) shot Leipzig to their fourth win of the season, Dodi Lukebakio (62nd, penalty kick) and Stevan Jovetic (64th) shortened for Hertha. The series broke anyway: The Berliners had not lost five times in a row, most recently there had been four draws. As a result, the black team, which is stuck with eight points, slipped down to 15th place in the table. Wilfried Kanga (90+4) hit the post.
Especially because of the performance in the second half, the Berliners were quite satisfied. “Everyone who saw the result at half-time thought that we would go home with four or five players. We taught them otherwise,” said defender Marc-Oliver Kempf sky.
Szoboszlai shines as a preparer
In the Red Bull Arena, the long-standing friendship between former flatmates Rose and Schwarz had to be paused for at least 90 minutes. “After the game we’ll be best friends again, no matter how things turn out,” Rose said beforehand. The RB coach briefly missed national striker Timo Werner, who was out due to an infection. For the first time since his testicular cancer operation, Schwarz relied on Marco Richter from the start.
It was also the Hertha professional (2nd) who tested RB goalkeeper Janis Blaswich with a long-range shot. In general, the guests did not hide and were safe at the back – until Leipzig got serious. First Christopher Nkunku (23rd) appeared completely alone in front of the Hertha goal, but keeper Oliver Christensen made a strong save. A little later, RB switched quickly after Berlin lost the ball, Forsberg pushed a cross from Dominik Szoboszlai into the net.
Hertha doesn’t give up
The Hungarian shone again as an assist five minutes later, finding Diallo from a corner kick and the Senegalese header, deflected from space, smashed in. Hertha now barely got in front of the opposing goal, while Leipzig was incredibly effective up front. After playing space, Andre Silva first hit the post before Orban stumbled the rebound over the line.
Hertha didn’t give up after the break – and yet Leipzig remained extremely dangerous. Black still sent his team forward. Substitute Kanga (57th) approached with a header before Lukebakio converted the penalty safely. It only took two more minutes for Jovetic to score from the turn. After that it got really turbulent.
RB Leipzig – Hertha BSC: The voices of the game
Marco Rose (RB Leipzig coach): “We had so many grains that we won the game. I’m super proud that we played like this in the program in the first half. We were so dominant in the early stages. Hertha then came back, but I did that before I knew that. A great team. I totally agree today and I’m proud of the lads.”
Sandro Schwarz (Hertha BSC coach): “Unfortunately, there are experiences like that. The first half wasn’t a 3-0 game either. What the boys then demolished… I love them for what they showed in the second half. The stability and aggressiveness that we showed get the place. It’s great sport. That’s going to be the way.”
