Leipzig's Breakthrough and Demichelis' Clear Message

Looking at the away standings on their cell phones should be a little less painful for the Leipzig pros for now. With their 2-0 victory over FC Schalke 04, RB Leipzig earned its first away win of this Bundesliga season. The win comes at just the right time, as Manchester City awaits in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“It was a hard-fought victory. We’ll see in our next away game whether we’ve broken the curse,” David Raum said after the match on the pay-TV channel Sky. Keeping a clean sheet was important, he noted. “Anyone who’s seen the away standings—we’ve all seen them on our phones—knows that wasn’t exactly to our liking,” the captain emphasized. 

First away league win marks a breakthrough

Thanks to this victory, the Saxons climbed back into the top four of the standings for the first time since the opening matchday of the Bundesliga and are now just three points behind the leading duo of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. “It feels good to be back on the right track. We worked hard, played with intensity, and were rewarded for it in the end,” said Romulo, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win. 

For coach Martin Demichelis, too, the first road win was an important step. “It was very, very important for us,” emphasized the 45-year-old. His team had to wait a long time for this moment and “fought hard” for it. “Today was our best away game against a very difficult and tough opponent,” the Argentine concluded. 

Manchester City Awaits as the Next Tough Test

However, the next opponent is likely to present RB with entirely different challenges. On Wednesday (9:00 p.m./DAZN), Leipzig will host Manchester City in the Champions League. “Our thoughts aren’t on Manchester yet. They’re two different teams with different approaches,” Demichelis explained after the win at Schalke.

With just one win in their first three matches, Leipzig is under pressure on the international stage. “A Champions League night is always something special, especially against a big opponent. We need to recover well now, stay focused, and enjoy this game. We’re playing at home and want to do everything we can to win,” said Romulo.

Demichelis Puts Pressure on Himself

Meanwhile, his coach—who has faced repeated criticism lately—made it clear that he’ll be judged by the results. “If we haven’t achieved a goal by the end of the season, then I’ll leave on my own. That’s how it is. The people who know me know that very well,” said Demichelis when asked about the pressure and the significance of the away win for his personal situation.

“It’s getting boring to hear this question. I know I have to achieve goals with RB Leipzig. That’s why I came here,” Demichelis explained, while also pointing out that the season is still long. The end of the away-game slump was certainly a milestone. However, further successes must follow if the discussions surrounding him are to die down.