In the close race for the Champions League, RB Leipzig switched back to attack mode and kept up the pressure on their direct competition. Hoffenheim is still in great danger of relegation.
Marco Rose blew hard. The deserved but tedious 1-0 (1-0) win against relegation-threatened TSG Hoffenheim had cost the RB Leipzig coach nerves. Up until the final whistle, Rose had been guiding his team on the sidelines with energetic gesticulations – in the end three important points in the fight for the premier class calmed them down.
The win was “extremely important,” said RB midfielder Kevin Kampl after the final whistle sky, “precisely as a reaction to the defeat in Leverkusen.” In contrast to the previous week at the Werkself (0:2), the Saxons were rewarded for their sovereign performance over long periods, only failed to “close the sack in the first half” despite numerous chances.
But it was enough, thanks to Christopher Nkunku’s goal (28′): The Rose-Elf made up two points on Union Berlin and also tanked up before the week of truth with the DFB Cup semifinals (Tuesday) and the league showdown (Saturday). plenty of self-confidence at SC Freiburg. In contrast, Hoffenheim have to tremble again in the relegation battle – after the second defeat in a row, the lead to relegation rank 16 is only one point.
RB started offensively in front of a home crowd. National striker Timo Werner was supposed to use his speed on the flanks, while Nkunku was the target player in the centre. The goalscorer, who was in the starting XI for the first time since his injury break, immediately caused danger there.
Christoph Baumgartner misses the best chance
After Kampl had won the ball powerfully, Nkunku appeared free in front of the TSG goal. The French made it too complicated in the end (2nd). Leipzig expanded the game, created spaces and used them.
TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was there when Konrad Laimer shot from around 20 meters (10′), shortly afterwards Werner aimed too high (14′). After 28 minutes, Nkunku redeemed the Rose team with the opening goal.
Hoffenheim hardly provided any relief. Liberation strikes mostly landed on the RB defensive. Only after about 20 minutes did TSG manage to shift the game more into the Leipzig half – and allowed the hosts to counterattack. National player David Raum did not make enough of it (26th).
Even after the deserved lead, Leipzig kept up the pace, but didn’t use the many switching options well enough. Hoffenheim missed the greatest chance: Christoph Baumgartner failed to meet Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, who let the ball bounce off Ihlas Bebou’s feet. The attacker aimed from ten meters over the open goal (38th).
After the break, Leipzig initially lacked access to the game, lacking dominance in the first half. Rose responded with a quadruple change (59th). The construction game of Leipzig was still flawed. There were hardly any great opportunities like Andre Silva’s. The substitute Portuguese hit the bar (73rd).
RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim: The voices
Marco Rose (RB Leipzig coach): “We played a very good first half, the goal was deserved. After the break we didn’t do quite as well and lost control of the game to a certain extent. The win will certainly give us a boost for the next week . It was an important win.”
Pellegrino Matarazzo (TSG Hoffenheim coach): “We played a decent game. We made mistakes in the first half. We were much more stable in the second half. I can live with the team spirit and the energy on the pitch.”
