The adjective “icky” is usually an ugly attribution. But when RB Leipzig and Union meet, like on Saturday evening in the top game of the Bundesliga, the disgust factor becomes a priority. RB Leipzig made every effort to be on a par with the surprise club Union in this category, as Leipzig’s wuhler Xaver Schlager had wished for before the game. But the original from Köpenick prevailed 2:1 (0:1) in the hard-fought duel between fourth and second in the league.
In the competition between the two clubs with completely opposite identities, Union has now won against RB for the fifth time in a row in the league and can finally call itself the feared opponent of the Red Bull club. In the championship battle of the Bundesliga, it is surprisingly the “overperformer” Union that stays on Bayern’s heels and not the top club RB Leipzig. After 18 games in all competitions without defeat, Leipzig had to accept their first bankruptcy.
Leipzig coach Marco decided, as he did against 1. FC Köln a week ago, to start with a chain of three or five. A clear indication of how much respect Leipzig had for the stable Unionern, who have long outgrown the status of underdogs.
Both teams initially played safety football
The Leipzig fans in the stadium, which was sold out with 47,069 spectators, sang along with the new curve hit “RB Leipzig on fire” to the tune of the 90s gala hit “Freed from desire”. But the game started a little fiery. Both teams initially played safety football with a lot of aggression, but without dangerous offensive scenes.
Referee Daniel Schlager let some things go. It was amazing that newcomer Aissa Laidouni didn’t get a yellow card for his hard foul on Benjamin Henrichs. Henrichs surprisingly started the first half at left-back, while Marcel Halstenberg played on the unfamiliar right flank. A move that should pay off.
Schlager asserted himself in the last third in the duel and Leipzig striker André Silva passed the ball on to the left, where Henrichs had place. The national player, who was not nominated for the World Cup, shot from 18 meters and overcame FCU goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow (24th). Not a blatant mistake by the Dane, but the shot next to the left post was by no means untenable.
After the break, Union took more initiative
Union tried to immediately push for an equalizer and, as usual, became dangerous via standards. But RB always got a body part on the ball at first. Becker had the best chance of the guests in the first 45 minutes after a great pass from winter access Laidouni (38th). Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich steered the ball wide with his fingertips.
The game was anything but a treat, but it was intense. Without the injured artists Dani Olmo and Christopher Nkunku, Leipzig mainly focused on beating the Union at their own game. That plan went awry in the second half.
After the break, RB started too passively again and left more of the game to the more pressing Unionern and allowed too many standards. This time Union took advantage of the offer and pushed RB inch by inch towards their own goal. Dominik Szoboszlai unhappily extended a corner to Janik Haberer, who volleyed to equalize (61′).
While RB couldn’t do anything constructive for a long time, the guests kept pushing. Mohamed Simakan touched the ball in the penalty area with his upper arm – a completely unnecessary action. Robin Knoche converted the hand penalty safely (72nd). From the point of view of the hosts, a game went by that Leipzig should never have given up. The fact that Yussuf Poulsen’s alleged equalizer was withdrawn due to an offside position suited the used evening for Leipzig.
Rani Khedira then said on Sky: “It wasn’t a deserved win, but a victory for morale.”
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