Bundesliga - Leipzig wins against Hoffenheim - fans celebrate Forsberg
Club icon Emil Forsberg gave himself the best presents for his unforgettable farewell evening just before Christmas. First the Swede gave RB Leipzig the lead shortly after coming on as a substitute, then he set up the next goal in a 3:1 (1:1) win against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The Saxon Bundesliga club has thus climbed to third place in the table for the time being.
Lukas Klostermann (34 minutes) put Marco Rose's team ahead in front of 42,946 spectators at the Red Bull Arena, before Ozan Kabak (42 minutes) equalized. Forsberg (71') restored the lead and Mohamed Simakan (74') increased it.
Even though RB record player Yussuf Poulsen set the first sign of respect with his header after just over two minutes, the fans celebrated their "Mister RB" Emil Forsberg - there was no sign of DFL protest. "With you in League One and throughout Europe, thank you for 9 years of commitment and passion" was written on a banner in the fan block. Loud shouts of "Emil Forsberg" echoed through the arena in the opening quarter of an hour. After 324 competitive matches, the Swede played what was probably his last home game. According to RB sporting director Rouven Schröder, his move to sister club Red Bull New York is on the home straight.
In the stands, New York sporting director Jochen Schneider and coach Sandro Schwarz personally reviewed the exceptional footballer's performance after he came on as a substitute in the 66th minute - and he did not disappoint them.
They had initially watched a one-sided match. Hoffenheim, who had traveled to the match with five away wins under their belts, just stood back against the Saxons. However, RB initially had few creative solutions in their continuous attack. TSG counter-attacked from time to time. After winning the ball, the visitors quickly switched to outnumbering the opponents, but Simakan was able to clear Ihlas Bebou's shot from a half-right position for a corner (24').
At the other end, John Anthony Brooks almost headed a corner kick (26') into his own goal. Benjamin Henrichs (29) then tried his luck with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that went over the goal. A few seconds later, Poulsen was denied by TSG keeper Oliver Baumann after receiving a through pass from Christoph Baumgartner.
It was a game of patience for the German cup winners. After a free-kick, Poulsen headed the ball into the center, where Simakan initially failed to clear a defender, but Klostermann (34) fired the rebound into the net from two meters. However, the goal was more of a wake-up call for Hoffenheim. After a free-kick, Kabak (42) headed in the equalizer. RB keeper Janis Blaswich, who was running out, failed to catch the ball. Before the half-time whistle, Kevin Vogt rammed over the otherwise pale Lois Openda in the penalty area without any chance of getting the ball, and Leipzig vehemently demanded a penalty - to no avail.
After the changeover, Baumann was powerless to stop a shot by Xavi Simons (50') from 16 meters, but the ball bounced back into the pitch from the inside of the post. Leipzig continued to struggle to build up play. Forsberg was to change that after just over an hour. Before being substituted, he was given a hug by Rose. The crowd in front of the stands echoed: "Here we go". After an Openda cross, Poulsen (69) sailed past the ball one meter in front of goal. Openda then found Forsberg with a long ball. He took the ball at full stretch and hammered it into the corner in the 71st minute. A minute later, the Swede sent Openda through on goal, but he failed to beat Baumann. Forsberg then hit the crossbar from a corner and Simakan chased the rebounded ball over the line. It was the perfect farewell evening for Forsberg.
RB homepage RB on the platform X RB on Facebook
Read also:
- A clan member is punished here
- Traffic lawyer warns: Don't talk to the police!
- Will he be convicted as Jutta's murderer after 37 years?
- He also wanted to kill his cousin
- Forsberg's outstanding performance in Germany's Bundesliga has caught the attention of Red Bull New York's sporting director Jochen Schneider.
- Emil Forsberg, a Swedish footballer, has been a crucial part of RB Leipzig's success in the Bundesliga, particularly in their game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
- The Bundesliga game between RB Leipzig and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim was moved to Baden-Württemberg due to scheduling conflicts.
- Despite the move, a large number of Leipzig fans traveled to witness Emil Forsberg's potential farewell game, creating a lively atmosphere in the Red Bull Arena.
- Bundesliga's third-place team, RB Leipzig, had a tough start against Hoffenheim, with both Lukas Klostermann and Ozan Kabak scoring within a minute of each other.
- Marco Rose, RB Leipzig's coach, was praised for his strategic decisions, particularly his substitution of Emil Forsberg into the game.
- Emil Forsberg's return to the pitch was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the Leipzig supporters, with chants of "Emil Forsberg" echoing through the stadium.
- Yussuf Poulsen, another key player for RB Leipzig, nearly scored an own goal during the match against Hoffenheim, adding to the excitement.
- The festive spirit of Christmas was not lost on the Bundesliga players, with several fans presenting Emil Forsberg with gifts as a token of appreciation.
- Despite the intense competition in the Bundesliga, the league is set to witness the departure of one of its star players, as Emil Forsberg's move to Red Bull New York is imminent.
Source: www.stern.de
