Ready for Bayern: Leipzig cracks Freiburg with standards

Two set-pieces, two goals, another win at last: RB Leipzig got the new year off to a late start and ended their minor results crisis just in time for the Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich. The Saxons defeated SC Freiburg 2:0 (0:0) and celebrated another success after two consecutive defeats.

In front of just 30,902 spectators, a double strike within three minutes decided the game. Defender Willi Orban (53rd minute) headed Leipzig into the lead from a free-kick. Center forward Romulo (56') also headed home from a corner. Leipzig thus consolidated third place behind leaders Munich and runners-up Dortmund.

Ouédraogo's comeback

Leipzig coach Ole Werner gave his high-flyer Yan Diomande a rest. The 19-year-old, who only returned from the Africa Cup by private jet on Sunday, was surprisingly not included in the starting eleven. Instead, international Assan Ouédraogo made his comeback after recovering from a knee injury, moving to the somewhat unfamiliar left-back position.

Freiburg had to do without Matthias Ginter at short notice, as the veteran was out with an infection. The absence of Ginter was not initially noticeable in the rebuilt SC defense. The visitors defended with discipline, kept the spaces tight and made life extremely difficult for Leipzig in attack.

First half: Danger only from Seiwald

The first half was - to put it mildly - more for tactics lovers anyway. Anyone expecting a spectacle with chances and goals had picked the wrong game. It was telling that Nicolas Seiwald, whose priority at Leipzig was to destroy the opponent's play, had the two best finishes. But SC keeper Noah Atubolu twice prevented the Austrian international from going behind and scoring his first Bundesliga goal (31st/41st).

Leipzig often lacked accuracy in attack and the game at FC St. Pauli last Saturday, which was canceled due to the weather, was at least noticeable in terms of the rhythm of the game. Standard situations were therefore needed, and Werner had placed particular emphasis on these at the training camp in Portugal.

One free-kick, one corner, two goals

David Raum won a free-kick on the byline and delivered it precisely into the five-metre area. There, Orban got through and scored his first goal of the season with a powerful header. And suddenly the RB offense was on fire. Tidiam Gomis (55) dribbled through on the right, but Atubolu cleared his shot out for a corner. This was also taken by Raum. Christoph Baumgartner failed to beat Atubolu with his head, but Romulo was in the right place and pushed the ball over the line from a few meters.

Werner wanted his team to keep the pressure on and brought on Diomande and Antonio Nusa on the attacking flanks. The latter Norwegian also played Baumgartner (67) into the penalty area, but his shot hit the post. And Nusa, who was very noticeable after his substitution, also failed to hit the post himself in the closing stages (80').