In a fast-paced top game in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig wins against Eintracht Frankfurt. While the Saxons are now challenging the record champions in the last game before Christmas, Frankfurt wants to avert the crisis in the derby.
RB Leipzig remains in the top group of the Bundesliga. At the end of the 14th matchday, coach Marco Rose’s team won the top game against Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 (1-1) and, as fourth in the table, is now level on points with the Hessians in third place.
A week and a half after the clear 3-0 cup success, Leipzig had a harder time against Eintracht this time, but they left the field as winners again. As in the DFB Cup, Benjamin Sesko (19th minute) shot Leipzig into the lead in front of 40,193 spectators before Nathaniel Brown (40th) was able to equalize. Loïs Openda (50th) marked the final score.
Frankfurt, who played a surprisingly strong first half of the season, are apparently running out of things just before Christmas. The Hessians have now been without a win in four competitive games and are awaiting the currently strong Mainz 05 team in the derby on Saturday. An even more difficult opponent awaits Leipzig at the end of the year. There will be a duel with FC Bayern on Friday.
Against Eintracht, the ball landed in the guests’ goal after just 30 seconds. But Openda, who initially failed with a lob to Kevin Trapp, was offside when Christoph Baumgartner passed the ball, who then scored in the follow-up shot. Sesko’s header (19′), who jumped higher and headed in after Trapp’s brilliant performance against Baumgartner in a direct duel with the keeper, counted. Two minutes later the Slovenian had it 2-0, this time Trapp was the winner.
Marmoush hits the crossbar
During Leipzig’s pressure phase, Eintracht slowly woke up. Maarten Vandevoordt first saved against Larsson (30th), then the crossbar prevented Omar Marmoush from equalizing from a free kick from 17 meters. When Can Uzun skillfully passed the ball on to Brown, who had started, he shot from the left from 15 meters and scored to make it 1-1 (40th). Vandevoordt stretched in vain.
After the change, the hosts again got off to a better start. Openda was wide awake after a corner and shot the ball extended by Baumgartner from half-left close range into the short corner to make it 2-1. But Eintracht remained dangerous and repeatedly caused problems for the RB defense.
Benjamin Henrichs saved a header from Arthur Theate (74′) just in front of the line. Afterwards, Marmoush (75th) had the chance to equalize, but was offside. The final phase developed into an open exchange of blows.
SUF with dpa