RB Leipzig have claimed an important victory in the race for the Champions League. In a 3-0 win over TSG Hoffenheim, the Saxons scored all their goals before the half-time whistle.
Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco made five changes to his starting eleven after the 1-1 draw with Atalanta Bergamo in the Europa League: Simakan, Mukiele, Forsberg, Szoboszlai and Halstenberg started for Klostermann, Henrichs, Angelino, Dani Olmo and Silva (all on the bench). The latter celebrated his starting eleven comeback after 323 days.
Hoffenheim coach Sebastian Hoeneß had to do without numerous players due to suspensions, Corona infections and injuries. Therefore, he changed four positions after the 1:2 against VfL Bochum: Richards, Nordtveit, Posch and Rutter moved into the starting line-up for Akpoguma, Vogt, Raum (all yellow suspension) and Grillitsch (muscle injury) – thus the entire three-man backline was re-staffed.
Nkunku puts RB on the winning track early on
The changes obviously caused problems for the visitors. Hoffenheim hardly found their way into the game and conceded the first goal after just five minutes. Nkunku’s Szoboszlai free-kick left Kaderabek unmarked, and he fired into the net. RB, however, were left shaking as referee Bastian Dankert disallowed the goal for what he thought was Nkunku’s offside – the VAR overturned the decision.
With the lead behind them, the Saxons dominated the game and ran the ball as well as their opponents. However, the Leipzig team became dangerous mainly through standards or counter-attacks. A counter-attack eventually led to 2:0: Laimer’s ball bounced rather accidentally to Halstenberg, who pushed the ball into the far corner (20th).
Only four minutes later it could have been even more bitter from TSG’s point of view, but Baumann parried a Mukiele shot following a free kick.
Szoboszlai bring about the preliminary decision before the break
After this scene, the home side slowed down a bit, retreated into their own half and let the Kraichgauers have the ball. TSG had difficulties to create chances against the gripping Leipzig players. Only a free-kick by Kramaric briefly created danger in the RB sixteen (40th).
It seemed as if both teams had already resigned themselves to a 2-0 lead at the break, but then Simakan was given plenty of space on a counterattack on the right. After his cross, the ball landed via Nkunku to Szoboszlai, who scored from close range – making the Frenchman the second Bundesliga player after Sancho to score and set up at least 15 goals in a season.
After the restart, the game flattened out further. The Kraichgauers let the ball circulate in their own half for the most part and did not get dangerously into the final third. Although RB invested much less than in the early stages of the game, they still managed to get in front of goal twice: Szoboszlai (74th) and substitute Dani Olmo (83rd) missed from promising positions. For this reason, the score remained 3-0 until the end.
TSG now seven points behind RB
The win sees Leipzig distance their direct rivals in the race for the Champions League to seven points. For Hoffenheim, who lost for the third time in a row, the top flight is now a distant memory.
