RB Leipzig survived a late onslaught to consolidate fourth spot in the standings thanks
to a 3-2 win against the 10 men of Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund 2-3 Leipzig
Goals: 0-1
Bensebaini (o.g. 32'), 1-1 Süle 45'+ 6 (assist: Brandt), 1-2 Baumgartner (54'), 1-3
Poulsen 90'+1 (assist: Forsberg), 2-3 Füllkrug 90'+3 (assist: Brandt)
Red card: Hummels
(15')
A heavyweight tussle at the Signal Iduna Park saw both sides keen on gaining a
touch more consistency on the domestic front. Knocked out of the DFB Cup by VfB
Stuttgart in the week, Dortmund soon found themselves in trouble in their latest
Bundesliga fixture. Panic gripped the Yellow Wall when Xaver Schlager's fine through
pass sent Loïs Openda racing clear. Struggling to keep up, Mats Hummels upended the
Leipzig forward. The BVB centre-back was initially booked and a penalty awarded to the
visitors. However, a VAR check changed the spot-kick to a free-kick just outside the
area, meaning last-man Hummels was ordered off. The omens appeared grim for the
Schwarzgelben. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel did his best for the home cause, keeping Mohamed
Simakan and Amadou Haidara efforts out. Yet, there was little the Swiss custodian could
do when Ramy Bensebaini headed into his own net from David Raum's corner. As the rain
fell, Dortmund eventually began to create. Janis Blaswich brilliantly turned Salih
Özcan's lob over. From the resulting set-piece, the ball was worked to Julian Brandt,
whose sublime pass to the far post was met by substitute Niklas Süle's controlled
finish.
Winners at Heidenheim last weekend, Leipzig kept themselves in touch with the
division's top teams and ahead of their opponents Dortmund in the standings. The chance
to stretch further in front of the Black-and-Yellows saw Marco Rose's side up their
efforts against the ten men after the restart. Christoph Baumgartner's determined break
through the centre led to the midfielder picking out the always menacing Xavi on the
left. The on-loan attacker drew a smart, one-handed stop from Kobel but Baumgartner was
there to slot in the loose ball as Die Roten Bullen edged back in front. A combination
of the post and Kobel prevented Baumgartner from adding another as Leipzig looked to
turn the screw. Yussuf Poulsen looked to have done just that when his sashay and finish
made it 3-1 yet, incredibly, BVB weren't done. Niclas Füllkrug's injury-time header set
up a grandstand finale, with Blaswich making a flying stop from Gio Reyna after Süle
drilled just wide. It wasn't to be for Borussia, though, with Edin Terzić's men having
now won only one of their last six Bundesliga games.
Match stats
Baumgartner scored his
first away goal in Leipzig colours and his third overall this season in the
Bundesliga.
Poulsen scored in his third consecutive Bundesliga game, a first for the
Dane.
Hummels was sent off for the the third time in his Bundesliga career, and on his
430th appearance in the German top flight.
Hummels' 15th minute expulsion was the
earliest red card in BVB's Bundesliga history.
Brandt laid on his sixth and seventh
assists of the campaign.
BVB have not been involved in a scoreless draw in the
Bundesliga for a record 141 games.
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Teams
Dortmund: Kobel - Meunier (Reyna 82'), Hummels, Schlotterbeck,
Bensebaini (Malen 82') - Özcan, Can (c) - Reus (Adeyemi 71'), Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens
(Süle 19') - Füllkrug
Unused subs: Meyer, Morey, Blank, Papadopoulos, Brunner
Out:
Duranville (thigh), Haller (knee), Lotka (suspended), Moukoko (thigh), Nmecha (hip),
Ryerson (knee), Sabitzer (calf), Wolf (ankle)
Coach: Edin Terzić
Leipzig: Blaswich -
Simakan, Klostermann (c), Castello - Henrichs, Schlager, Haidara (Kampl 81'), Raum -
Xavi (Šeško 76'), Baumgartner (Forsberg 75') - Openda (Poulsen 75')
Unused subs:
Gulácsi, Lenz, Bitshiabu, Seiwald, Carvalho
Out: Olmo (shoulder), Orban (knee), Werner
(muscular)
Coach: Marco Rose
