Leipzig suffered a nasty surprise against Brugge. After the 1:2 defeat against the visitors, who were brisk in the first half, RB already have their backs to the wall in the fight for the knockout round.
Bruges started bravely and purposefully in Leipzig, De Ketelaere popped up dangerously twice in the Saxons’ penalty area in the opening stages (2nd, 11th), with Gulacsi making a fine save in the second action to prevent the equaliser.
Vanaken counters Nkunku
After just five minutes, Nkunku had somewhat fortuitously completed a relay via Szoboszlai and Forsberg to take the lead – after an offside check, the goal counted for the Saxons, who had made three changes to their line-up (Simakan, Laimer and Szoboszlai played for Gvardiol, Haidara and Angelino) after coach Jesse Marsch’s 6-0 thumping win over Hertha.
The Belgians, who started unchanged despite a meagre 1-1 draw against OH Leuven, stuck to their brisk approach, and Leipzig, this time with a four-man backline, revealed coordination problems. With consequences, because Vanaken rewarded the offensive efforts of the guests after De Ketelaere’s solo run over the left side against the unsorted RB – 1:1 (22.).
Leipzig also had room for improvement in attack. The combination play suffered from many inadequacies, symptomatic that Poulsen’s header chance resulted from a free-kick cross (30.). Clement Philippe’s charges were the better, more alert team in the first half and had much more structure to offer.
Rits have little trouble – 2:1
The break lead through Rits was the logical consequence, the midfielder taking advantage of Vanaken’s good preparatory work from five metres free (41.).
RB started the second half with Gvardiol and Haidara for Mukiele and Laimer. With increased commitment, the home side closed in on their opponents, for whom relief was now almost a foreign word – just like a compelling opportunity for Leipzig against the massive Belgian cover.
Marsch brought on Silva for Szoboszlai (58th) – should his team now show more presence in the penalty area? The Bundesliga team kept up the pressure, but got caught up in the visitors’ defensive thicket time and time again.
Penalty? The VAR says no
Brugge were tired, their energies fading after an intense first-period display. Nkunku’s sprint was then no defender’s match, the offensive player lifted the ball over keeper Mignolet and came down – but after VAR review there was no penalty (77.).
More than a half-chance through Silva (89th) was all the Marsch team could muster in the final phase. In the end, Leipzig were left empty-handed despite playing one-way football in the second half without a real chance to equalise – and have already fallen behind after two matchdays.
Leipzig continue their league campaign on Saturday (18.30) at home to promoted Bochum, while Brugge visit RSC Anderlecht the following day (13.30).
