Led by national player Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen defeated the Austrian representative Salzburg. Despite some personnel concerns, the Werkself never had any problems. At RB Leipzig, however, things continue to be in crisis.
Florian Wirtz shone with two goals in a 4-0 win against Feyenoord Rotterdam in his first Champions League game – an impressive debut. It’s hard to believe it’s his first season in this competition. The national player’s next brace came against RB Salzburg. Bayer Leverkusen is back on track in the Champions League thanks to its early goals. After two winless premier class games, the German soccer champions won confidently 5-0 (3-0) against FC Red Bull Salzburg
Thanks to the midfielder’s enthusiasm, Leverkusen remains a hot contender for qualification for the round of 16. The German football champions, who have been undefeated in European Cup games in front of their own audience for more than two years, have now continued their successful home series.
With ten points from five games, the Rhinelanders now have excellent prospects of taking part in the play-offs. In addition, two of the remaining three games will take place in the BayArena. In front of 29,211 spectators, the strong Wirtz (8th/foul penalty/30th) as well as Alejandro Grimaldo (11th), Patrik Schick (61st) and Aleix Garcia (72nd) scored the goals for the clearly superior Leverkusen team.
Two changes to the starting line-up
In the second Champions League home game of the season, Leverkusen’s starting eleven almost gave itself up. Due to the loss of six injured players, including four offensive players in Victor Boniface, Amine Adli, Martin Terrier and Jonas Hofmann, coach Xabi Alonso had hardly any alternatives . Matej Kovar replaced Lukas Hradecky in goal, and Robert Andrich replaced Aleix García in midfield. There were also three junior players on the bench – Ben Hawighorst, a 16-year-old.
Three days after the 5-2 win against 1. FC Heidenheim, the Leverkusen team started focused, enthusiastic and offensive against the young Salzburg team, which only has one win under its belt. Against Heidenheim, the champions were already 2-0 down after 20 minutes, and that shouldn’t happen to the home team in the Champions League.
Standards lead to leadership
With an early standard double strike, the hosts quickly steered the game in their direction. First Wirtz scored with a much-discussed hand penalty, four minutes later Grimaldo followed up with a directly converted free kick with his inimitable shooting technique. At this point, Salzburg had to do without their offensive player Karim Konate. The 20-year-old left the field with a grimace of pain on his face.
Leverkusen had the game firmly under control, but had to be on their guard when counterattacking. Wirtz, who was in a good mood, showed his class on the third goal when he didn’t let three opponents stop him and shot the ball into the far corner. Granit Xhaka, Grimaldo and Exequiel Palacios had further good opportunities for the Bayer team, but RB keeper Alexander Schlager was still one of his team’s best players.
Finally, backup center forward Schick also scored his first goal in the Champions League. The replacement for the injured Victor Boniface made it 4-0 after an hour, making it five goals in the last three games. Substitute Garcia scored after Wirtz’s preparatory work to make it 5-0.
RB Leipzig before the premier class exit
RB Leipzig suffered its fifth defeat in its fifth game with a 0-1 (0-1) draw at Inter Milan. The chances of making it to the knockout round are only minimal in the three remaining games of the new league system. The current crisis with five competitive games without a win in a row was matched by Leipzig’s central defender Castello Lukeba’s own goal (27th), which gave Inter a deserved victory.
Rose, who had recently spoken of a crisis for the first time, surprised André Silva in the starting line-up instead of Benjamin Sesko. The Portuguese was only allowed to start from the start in the DFB Cup against FC St. Pauli (4:2). “His training performance, his persistence” speak for the Portuguese, Rose told the streaming service DAZN. Silva wasn’t able to make an impact until he was substituted (61′).
He also made three changes after the 3-4 loss in Hoffenheim and switched back to a four-man defense. After Lukas Klostermann was out, he only had five outfield players on the bench, including young player Viggo Gebel. Inter coach Simone Inzaghi had little reason for changes after eleven unbeaten competitive games and the last 5-0 win at Verona, but made eight changes.
Inter sent the first signal with a shot from Mehdi Taremi (4th), which deflected and was dangerous for RB goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi. The Hungarian then saved against Federico Dimarco (8th). Inter were immediately in the game, combining quickly and confidently. RB noticed the uncertainty after four competitive games without a win, especially in midfield the rate of bad passes in the opening quarter of an hour was too high. Gulacsi was once again wide awake when Lautaro Martinez (18′) took advantage of a cross.
RB puts Inter in the lead
He had no chance when conceding the goal. In keeping with the current RB situation, Lukeba unfortunately received a free kick from Dimarco on his lower leg, from where the ball went through his own legs and into the goal. Then Christoph Baumgartner (31′) prevented the score from being 0-2 on the line. Until the half-time whistle, RB did not have a top-class scoring opportunity.
After just over an hour, Leipzig had more of the game. Rose brought additional impetus with Sesko, Nicolas Seiwald and Assan Quedraogo. Just four minutes later, Schalke’s new signing Quedraogo had to go down again due to an injury because the tip of his foot got caught in the grass.
RB optimized their counter-pressing once again, but were too lacking in ideas when they had possession of the ball. Antonio Nusa (69) had the first and best chance to equalize. Ex-Bundesliga keeper Yann Sommer brilliantly parried his well-placed shot. In the final phase, Leipzig became stronger and stronger. Suddenly Inter wobbled. But RB didn’t reward themselves.
jm/dpa
