Following the next gross error by national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are in danger of slipping even deeper into the relegation battle. Helped by the 34-year-old keeper's blunder and after more than an hour of overtime, RB Leipzig gave their interim coach Zsolt Löw - once a professional with the Kraichgau club - a winning home debut.
In the Saxony club's 300th game in the Bundesliga, RB struggled to a 3:1 (2:1) win, boosting their hopes of a Champions League place.
After the visitors took an early lead through Tom Bischof in the eleventh minute, in which Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi was again extremely unlucky, Benjamin Sesko (24) equalized. Baumann let his unmarked header slip through his gloves.
After a red card for Leo Østigård for an emergency brake (28'), Ridle Baku (43') increased the lead before the break in front of 44,478 spectators. Yussuf Poulsen (84), who had come on as a substitute three minutes earlier, made the difference. Hoffenheim, who still have an extremely challenging remaining program ahead of them, thus missed the chance to win in Leipzig for the ninth time in a row.
Löw quickly took a sip of water before kick-off for his first RB home game. However, the Leipzig fans first saluted the previous coach: "Marco Rose" echoed loudly through the Red Bull Arena after kick-off. The supporters paid their respects to the Leipzig-born coach with banners.
Last Sunday, RB parted ways with Rose. Löw will stay until the end of the season and a new coach is being sought. Champions League is the goal, wins are needed. All the more reason to get one at home and against Hoffenheim, who are chronically unsuccessful in Leipzig.
However, the visitors had the first chances: In the third minute, Bazoumana Touré failed to beat Gulacsi, three minutes later Hoffenheim were not consistent enough in front of the Leipzig goal. RB's first opportunity came in the tenth minute through captain Willi Orban. However, the defender missed the goal with a spinning shot.
And then a minute later at the other end: Gulacsi, not in goal in the cup, played the ball into Touré's feet. He quickly passed to Bischof. The RB keeper was also unable to save his long-range shot into the far corner - but it did not look unstoppable.
Coach Christian Ilzer's Hoffenheim team initially looked more determined, more willing. But Leipzig, initially lacking momentum despite their cup semi-final exit against VfB Stuttgart, were jubilant. Thanks to Baumann, who had already made a momentous blunder in mid-March in the 1-0 defeat to FC St. Pauli.
Although not at the level of footballing enjoyment, there was still plenty going on afterwards. After a body check on Loïs Openda, Østigård was sent off after less than half an hour. Leipzig took advantage of this and Ridle Baku thumped the ball into the Hoffenheim goal - this time Baumann was powerless.
What should Hoffenheim do now? Leipzig had played a solid game and had one more man on the pitch. But they didn't really make much of it, and there were no really compelling chances at first. Instead, the ball was suddenly in the Leipzig goal - created by Castello Lukeba. However, this was preceded by a close offside call by Hoffenheim, meaning no goal.
And yet, just like a double chance for the visitors in the 70th minute, it showed how vulnerable Leipzig were for a long time against a relegation candidate despite taking the lead, having the majority of possession and scoring a third goal. And, above all, that Löw still has a lot of work to do to hand over a Champions League contender to the new coach.
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