A little trembling and yet won: Thanks to the magic foot Dominik Szoboszlai, RB Leipzig increased the pressure on leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga championship race. With a brace, the technically gifted Hungarian led the DFB Cup winners to a deserved 2-1 (1-0) win against VfB Stuttgart at the start of the second half of the season on Friday.
With the three, the Saxons (35 points) moved up to within one point of the record champions at least for one night.
Szoboszlai secured the important success of coach Marco Rose’s team, which is now unbeaten in 16 competitive games in a row, with a great free-kick goal from 30 meters (25′) and a powerful shot from the edge of the box (49′). Chris Führich (68th, hand penalty after video evidence) shortened for VfB. Bayern could restore the old four-point gap to RB in the top game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (6:30 p.m. / Sky).
“It feels good, we’re going through a very good phase,” said Leipzig international Benjamin Henrichs DAZN: “We haven’t lost for a long time, that speaks for us. It’s important to collect the points in a game like this and keep going.”
Stuttgart’s goalscorer Führich complained: “We knew that it would be difficult with so many absentees. It’s still disappointing because we had our chances to get something countable.”
VfB, on the other hand, remained without a win in the third game under new coach Bruno Labbadia (two draws and one defeat) and are hanging in table 15. still stuck in the relegation battle with 16 points.
Müller looks bad with Szoboszlai free kick
The guests immediately played courageously, even though five regular players had been injured or suspended in the past few days and Labbadia had to completely reorganize their offensive line of three.
While RB could hardly get through with his ball possession football at the beginning, Stuttgart was stable and lurked for a counterattack. Captain Wataru Endo intercepted a sloppy pass from RB defender Willi Orban to Xaver Schlager and immediately sent starting XI debutant Thomas Kastanaras (9th) down. From the edge of the penalty area, the 20-year-old failed at Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich. RB only became more compelling and playful in the middle of the first half.
A lot went through national player David Raum, who started for Marcel Halstenberg on the left side of defence, and center forward Andre Silva (23rd) almost scored the opening goal – the Portuguese header flew over the goal. Szoboszlai aimed more precisely and fired from 30 meters after a foul on Dani Olmo. His fluttering free kick hit the bottom left and made VfB goalkeeper Florian Müller, who touched the ball lightly, look very unhappy. A little later, Silva (32nd) – again after a space flank – headed to the left outer post.
After the break, Nikolas Nartey (46th) suddenly appeared free in front of Blaswich, but shot just wide. RB was hardly shocked after the almost equalizer, but played courageously forward. When VfB professional Josha Vagnoman tried to clear, Silva headed it to Szoboszlai, who plucked the ball out of the air and threw it into the net.
VfB should find their way back into the game when Josko Gvardiol jumped the ball after a Nartey cross. After viewing the video images, referee Felix Zwayer decided on a penalty, Führich converted safely.
RB Leipzig – VfB Stuttgart: The voices of the game
Marco Rose (Leipzig coach): “It was a hard-fought, hard-earned win that came in stages. Stuttgart are a very talented team with a good plan. We didn’t start the game that well. After we were 1-0 up we were very good until the break. After We were better after the moment of shock at the beginning of the second half and played well. After the penalty it was open again, both teams fought. We are very happy to take the points with us.”
Bruno Labbadia (Stuttgart coach): “It’s relatively difficult for me to find the words today. On the one hand, we’re empty-handed. We’ve now played three games and got two points. But we know we could have gotten more. We did we have a tough task ahead of us. We have to score.”
RB Leipzig – VfB Stuttgart: The data for the game
Leipzig: Blaswich – Henrichs (80th Klostermann), Orban, Gvardiol, Raum (80th Halstenberg) – Schlager, Haidara – Szoboszlai, Olmo (46th Forsberg) – Werner (84th Poulsen), Silva (69th Laimer). – Coach: Rose
Stuttgart: Müller – Stenzel, Anton, Ito, Vagnoman – Karazor – Nartey (86th Kuol), Endo, Kastanaras (46th Perea), Führich (80th Coulibaly) – Pfeiffer (86th Aidonis). – Trainer: Labbadia
referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
Gates: 1: 0 Szoboszlai (25th), 2: 0 Szoboszlai (49th), 2: 1 Führich (68th, hand penalty after video evidence)
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