We’re at the Red Bull Arena tonight for a big game between two of the Bundesliga’s biggest clubs, a contest which has become a bit of a modern rivalry due to RB Leipzig’s success in recent years. I’m Joe Zelinger and I’ll be taking you through it and it looks to be an exciting game.
Leipzig had started the league season slowly but are coming in to form of late. A win today would take them up to fifth, just a point behind fourth-placed Wolfsburg. Dortmund are doing well, and look good for a Champions League spot yet again, but will they be able to go one further and win this league? Bayern are currently four clear after winning earlier today.
Dortmund won the last encounter here between the two 4-1, so Leipzig will want revenge for that tonight.
Tonight’s teams are as follows…
KICK OFF: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
3 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Sliding challenge to win the ball by Gvardiol sends Poulsen into some good space and nearly a free run at goal but the flag is straight up for offside.
4 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Leipzig trying to build up the play here but Haidara’s pass is wayward and ends up with Kobel in the Dortmund goal.
5 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Gvardiol again with a good ball to Poulsen, the Dane gets it on the left, looks up and crosses but there’s no one in there to get a head on it and Akanji clears for the visitors.
10 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Leipzig have been by far the better side thus far, and the frustration is perhaps setting in for Reus already. In an attempt to win the ball back high up the field for his side he brings down Mukiele and a freekick is awarded.
13 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
CHANCE: Great press from Tyler Adams to dispossess Witsel. He slides in Nkunku, who takes one touch past Hummels, but his effort is straight at the keeper. It comes to Szoboszlai but from a tough angle and Dortmund players on the line, he drags the rebound wide. Poor from Dortmund to lose the ball there, they haven’t woken up yet.
17 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
CHANCE: Nkunku wins it back this time for Leipzig, dribbles and dribbles and you think he’s taken it too far. He goes into the box and takes the shot which is saved by Kobel but he can’t hold on to it. Szoboszlai tries to follow in but to be fair to the Dortmund keeper he does well to react and save and eventually claims the ball. Leipzig getting closer though.
20 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Still all going the way of the hosts here. Gulacsi with a long kick sends Nkunku in behind. He still has Hummels to beat and tries to combine with Poulsen and Szoboszlai but they lose the ball. Dortmund then give it straight back to Leipzing and Henrichs on the right hand side crosses for Nkunku who was lurking but Akanji heads out for a corner. The corner comes in and Mukiele makes contact but it’s held by Kobel.
26 mins: RB Leipzig 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Leipzing are in complete control here. Dortmund haven’t laid a glove on them.
GOAL: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund (Christopher Nkunku 29 mins)
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Frenchman has been sensational so far and definitely deserves this! He’s sent through by another one of those great Gvardiol passes. Once he’s in behind he takes it round Kobel and puts it in an empty net. Wild celebrations from the home fans as well as a bit of a lights show inside the stadium. Dortmund undone finally.
Even as an ex-Dortmund player, I have to admit it’s been coming.
Steffen Freund on commentary.
31 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Frustration for Dortmund. Szoboszlai is pulled back by Bellingham and he’s shown a yellow card, and then so is Reus for arguing with the referee. They have to be careful not to lose their heads.
35 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
First corner of the evening for Dortmund. Leipzig will be kicking themselves if they concede from this.
And it’s cleared. But Dortmund are so close to getting back into it. They work it back into the area through a great Meunier run behind the defence, he pulls back a low cross into a crowded area which finds Bellingham, but his shot is blocked by one of the many bodies in there. A warning sign for the hosts.
After a replay I can now see the shot was actually stopped by Malen his teammate!
39 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund are growing into this. Still only the the one chance but they’ve got themselves a bit higher up the pitch and are pressing more. If this is anything to go by we have a great game on our hands.
42 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Poorly given away by US captain Adams there and Dortmund move it down the left. Bellingham tries a cross and it results in a corner. It’s taken short, eventually coming to Reus on the edge of the box who has a go however it takes a deflection and goes out for another corner which comes to nothing.
44 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Chance for Leipzig late in the first half as Mukiele wins a corner. Can they extend their lead before the break?
Szoboszlai goes low looking for Mukiele but Dortmund deal with it.
HALF-TIME: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Advantage Leipzig as the referee signals for half-time. They will be going up to fifth as it stands, closing the gap between them and tonight’s opponents to six points. For Dortmund, Marco Rose will need to fire up his side for the second half because they haven’t been at the races tonight. They need a response because that gap to Bayern Munich will extend to four with defeat here.
But it’s been exciting stuff nonetheless, I hope it continues!
Dortmund really need to improve their work rate, especially in the centre of midfield.
Steffen Freund on commentary.
Here come the teams for the second half. Jesse Marsch is actually out on the pitch giving his side a few last instructions.
Dortmund have made a change for this second period. Pongracic is off for Knauff. Attacking change for the away team. Thorgan Hazard is now going to have to play at left-back which is a brave decision from Rose.
47 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Better intensity from Dortmund immediately as they force Leipzig to put it out for a throw in.
49 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
Poor from Simakan there. He gives it away to Reus who releases Brandt on the right. He looks for his man in the box but Gulacsi comes out to gather the ball before it can get any further.
50 mins: RB Leipzig 1-0 Borussia Dortmund
CHANCE: Nearly two for Leipzig! Brilliant football as Mukiele uses his strength to win the ball and find Poulsen in the box. He lays it off to Nkunku who only needs to tap it home but he misses the ball! Will they rue these missed chances?
GOAL: RB Leipzig 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (Marco Reus 52 mins)
Yes they will! Fantastic goal as well. Meunier plays a threaded ball through for Reus who takes one touch to set himself and then guides it past Gulacsi. His third goal of the season. It’s also his 102nd Bundesliga goal for Dortmund. Leipzig will be absolutely kicking themselves. The change of system working for the away side so far in this half it seems.
59 mins: RB Leipzig 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Change of system for Leipzig now as Henrichs the right-wing-back is replaced by Forsberg.
60 mins: RB Leipzig 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Dangerous cross from Nkunku and it’s a vital touch from Hummels to get it away for the corner. Szoboszlai delivers it and it’s headed towards goal by Nkunku which forces a good save from Kobel. He then does well to hook it clear whilst on the floor to deny a Leipzig player an open goal.
64 mins: RB Leipzig 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
CHANCE: Nkunku has it and spins away from Hummels, leaving the German on the floor. He composes himself, shoots, but it strikes the post! Moments later the Frenchman is free again and he looks to slide one in for Poulsen however Kobel gets there first.
Poulsen did catch the Dortmund keeper on the head there as he was stretching for it and there will be a stoppage in play to check if he’s ok.
And fortunately he’s fine. Play will resume.
GOAL: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund (Yousef Poulsen 68 mins)
The Red Bull Arena erupts as Leipzig are deservedly back in front. They could of had about five tonight if they’d been more clinical. Nkunku is passed to on the left by Szoboszlai and crosses into the back post for the Dane who taps home. Hazard was asleep there as Poulsen snuck in behind to give himself the easiest of finishes.
Great movement from Poulsen
Steffen Freund on commentary.
Now Andre Silva, who turns 26 today replaces the goal scorer Poulsen. Malen who hasn’t yet settled in at Dortmund comes off for 16-years-old Youssoufa Moukoko.
73 mins: RB Leizpig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
GOAL DISALLOWED: Great off the ball movement from Forsberg and Szoboszlai puts him in on the right hand side of the box. He fires at Kobel from a tight angle and wins a corner. The corner comes in and ends up right on the other side, Angelino delivers back in brilliantly towards Mukiele who heads it home. However, celebrations are halted straight away as the flag is raised by the linesman. Leipzig thought they had the game wrapped up for split-second.
76 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Freekick from Dortmund is taken by Reus and glanced on by Meunier, but Gulacsi holds easily.
79 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
CHANCE: Corner this time from Dortmund and it’s a really good chance actually. Hummels rises well from a Brandt delivery but his header is straight at the keeper. What an opportunity!
82 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Brandt makes way for Reinier.
83 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Slight chance for Leipzig as Szoboszlai carries it forward. He strikes from about 25 yards but drags it well wide. Ten minutes to go. The scoreline doesn’t show what has happened in this game, but Dortmund won’t care. They have what remains to salvage something from this game. Can Leipzig hold on.
Leizpig are going to make a double change to help get themselves through the closing stages. Nkunku and Haidara off for Olmo and Laimer.
85 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
And the substitute Olmo wins a freekick to break up play for his team.
Dortmund with a change of their own now. Zagadou who’s been out for a year comes on to replace Witsel.
87 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Half a chance for Bellingham as he sees a shot blocked and out for a corner from inside the box. The corner is cleared and Leipzig may have a break on however Szoboszlai goes down after a challenge, but it’s clear from replays, the Hungarian dived and is shown a yellow card.
90 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Leipzig closing in on their first Bundesliga win over Dortmund for four years. Four minutes added on.
90+1 mins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Crossed in by Hazard. Bit of a scramble in the box but it’s eventually cleared. It comes to Meunier who strikes a speculative effort way over the bar. Wasteful.
90+4 ins: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Last chance for Dortmund but they’re being constantly forced back by Leipzig. Knauff tries to go past Mukiele but the centre back stands strong and wins the tackle.
FULL-TIME: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
It’s all over. What a brilliant win for Jesse Marsch and his team. They’ve been struggling so far this season to get wins over the bigger teams, but they’ve done it tonight! That’s also now seven games unbeaten. Dortmund were so poor tonight. They had a better spell when they got the goal, and a small rally at the end, but other than their fans and Marco Rose will be very disappointed with the display. They lose ground on Bayern at the top, ending a run of five straight wins in the Bundesliga and compiling more misery after Wednesday’s defeat to Ajax in the Champions League.
Well all that’s left to say is thank you for joining me tonight. I’ve enjoyed describing all the key moments from an action packed game. RB Leipzig look to be getting their season going now after a slow start, and as for Dortmund, will anyone ever stop Bayern?
Cheers and take care.
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