Matchday 13 - "Do something with your head": Leipzig wins and gets angry
After some thought,Xaver Schlager finally found the right comparison.
"It's like constantly studying and still coming home with a five. It just doesn't feel good," said the RB Leipzig midfielder. What annoyed the Austrian so much after the 2:1 against 1. FC Heidenheim was the unnecessary goal conceded by Benedikt Gimber in stoppage time of the first half.
Loïs Openda (29th penalty) and Yussuf Poulsen (44th) had given Leipzig a well-deserved lead with a dominant performance. Then the defense lost track of a corner kick - and the game became unnecessarily tense. "It's not a good feeling when you realize your opponent isn't playing well, has a chance and the ball is in," said Schlager. "It does something to your head."
In the end, Leipzig were actually lucky that Gimber was too hasty with his great chance to score his second goal deep into stoppage time and sent the ball into the cold evening sky. Leipzig thus remained unbeaten in their Bundesliga history against promoted teams in front of 44,887 fans.
Xavi Simons fit again in time
Only Leipzig's Poulsen was left over from the first duels between the two teams in the 2013/14 third division season. However, Leipzig's focus was on another player. Difference player Xavi Simons was in danger of being ruled out after falling on his shoulder in the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City, but reported fit in time.
Driven by the Dutch international, Leipzig initially dominated the game and looked to take an early lead. Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt tried to soften the pressure with a more defensive formation. US international Lennard Maloney moved back from defensive midfield to the center of the back five.
However, Leipzig did not let this bother them. Openda, who had scored twice in Manchester, had the lead on his feet after just two minutes. However, the Belgian international striker shot over the goal from six meters. Three minutes later, FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller made a great save from Poulsen. The Dane looked liberated after his goal in the 2-1 draw in Wolfsburg, but still lacked precision in his finishing.
Pieringer misses a great chance
And Heidenheim? Suddenly had a great chance to take the lead. Marvin Pieringer (14) appeared completely free in front of the Leipzig goal, but put his unchallenged header just wide of the target. Heidenheim then helped out. Norman Theuerkauf pulled Openda off his feet in the penalty area and the 23-year-old converted the spot-kick safely.
The game then flattened out a little before it became really confusing shortly before half-time. David Raum made a strong break down the left wing and played a pass to Poulsen - who was luckier this time. His attempt trickled through Müller's legs and into the goal. A preliminary decision, you thought. But after a corner in stoppage time, Gimber was on hand to unexpectedly reduce the deficit.
However, that did not throw Leipzig off their stride. Christoph Baumgartner (47) tried to restore the gap with a lob over Müller. The keeper saved, but the ball landed at the feet of Poulsen. This time, the Dane was too indecisive in front of the empty goal and wasted his time. RB pressed for the third goal, but lacked precision, as with Xaver Schlager's shot (55') on the outside of the net.
As the game became increasingly flat, RB coach Marco Rose brought on two new impulses from the bench in Emil Forsberg and Benjamin Sesko. Forsberg served Openda in his first action (78'), but he failed to hit the post from an acute angle.
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- Despite their dominant performance, RB Leipzig was frustrated by Benedikt Gimber's unnecessary goal conceded in stoppage time against 1. FC Heidenheim, as it made the score 2-1.
- Xavier Simons, a key player for Leipzig, was fit again in time for the match after falling on his shoulder during their 3-2 defeat against Manchester City.
- The match took place in front of 44,887 fans in Saxony, Germany, with Loïs Openda scoring a penalty and Yussuf Poulsen securing Leipzig's lead before half-time.
- Xaver Schlager, Leipzig's midfielder, expressed his anger and disappointment after the game, comparing the feeling to constantly studying and still getting a poor grade.
- In Baden-Württemberg, Heidenheim tried to defend against Leipzig's attacks, but missed several chances to take the lead, including a wide header by Marvin Pieringer just before half-time.
- The Bundesliga match between Heidenheim and Leipzig was a competitive one, with both teams showcasing their soccer skills, but ultimately Leipzig held on to their lead to remain unbeaten against promoted teams.
- After bringing on Emil Forsberg and Benjamin Sesko as substitutes, Leipzig continued their pursuit for a third goal, but their finishing was not precise enough to secure a bigger margin of victory.
Source: www.stern.de
