In Domenico Tedesco’s debut, RB Leipzig showed enormous enthusiasm. After three league defeats in a row, the Saxons overran Gladbach, who had no chance. In the end, however, the game became tense for a short time – also because Silva made an embarrassing miss.
RB coach Domenico Tedesco made two changes on his debut for Leipzig compared to the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League. Klostermann dropped out with muscular problems and Szoboszlai sat on the bench. Simakan and Orban, who returned after overcoming a Corona infection, started in their place.
Gladbach coach Adi Hütter also made only two changes despite the 6-0 debacle against SC Freiburg, with Lainer and Plea relegated to the bench by captain Stindl and Embolo.
Leipzig tempo football – Gvardiol’s first goal
The Foals had some things to make up for, but repeatedly faced breathtakingly fast switching play from Leipzig in the first half.
Laimer (7th), Silva (10th) and Nkunku (19th) missed three great opportunities, before Gvardiol scored the highly deserved 1:0 after a standard (21st) – the first goal of the Croatian in the RB dress.
The Foals almost showed the perfect reaction, but Embolo just missed (22nd). After that, Gladbach got into the game a little better and occasionally broke away from the Leipzigers, who were running high in a 3-4-3. However, they did not create any chances.
Gladbach off the roll – Sommers strong reflex
Instead, the Saxons went up 2:0 through Silva (33.) after another great attack over several stations – again Angelino did the groundwork. In contrast to the first goal, Gladbach seemed to be shocked by this, defended only half-heartedly and passively and could thank their somewhat careless hosts (34th Nkunku; 35th Silva) and their strong backstop Sommer, who made a sensational save against Silva shortly before the break and prevented anything worse (45th).
In terms of personnel, both coaches kept the same eleven after the restart – but now Sommer was also shaking: The Swiss came out of his goal and played the ball into Nkunku’s foot on the halfway line. The Frenchman got around Sommer and crossed into the middle to Silva, who managed to shoot the ball from just under 14 metres unchallenged onto the crossbar of the empty goal – one for every review of the year (52.).
RB miss chance after chance – First Bundesliga goal for Henrichs
The final decision was still a long time coming, but Leipzig were still the more dangerous team at all times, Forsberg (62.) and Nkunku (74.) also missed the third goal when they were free.
And so Gladbach still had a foot in the door somehow – especially when Bensebaini suddenly scored the 1:2 after a standard (88th). Leipzig, however, did not really start to tremble but turned up the heat again briefly, Nkunku (90.+1) and Henrichs (90.+4, first Bundesliga goal in the 82nd game) pushed the result up to 4:1.
After three league defeats in a row, RB managed to win again and coach Tedesco’s debut was extremely successful in terms of results and play, even if the Saxons should have won by a much higher margin. Gladbach had no chance for the third time in a row and must continue to look downwards.
Both teams will be challenged again on Wednesday: Gladbach expect the Frankfurt Eintracht (18.30), Leipzig guest in Augsburg (20.30).
