A Lackluster 4-0 Win: RB Leipzig Extends Its Winning Streak Against Elversberg

At least at home, RB Leipzig continues to win, giving coach Martin Demichelis—who had been under pressure—some breathing room. The 4-0 (0-0) victory over newly promoted SV Elversberg was the team’s fourth home win this season, all without conceding a goal. Tidiam Gomis scored the opening goal for the hosts in the 48th minute. Romulo, with a brace (66th, 90+3), and Christoph Baumgartner (84th) added to the tally in front of 41,129 spectators to seal the final score.

Following the defeats against FC Bayern (1–6) and Real Madrid (1–4), Demichelis made extensive lineup changes. He altered the team in eight positions compared to the Champions League match. Even goalkeeper Maarten Vandervoordt, who had been in outstanding form recently, was given a breather; Norwegian Örjan Nyland took his place in goal for the first time since his summer transfer. Nyland had last guarded the RB goal in April 2023.

The proud SV Elversberg, on the other hand, continued to rely on consistency in Saxony. Only Frederik Schmahl replaced the injured Noah Darvich in attacking midfield.

A lackluster first half

Anyone expecting an offensive fireworks display from the two attack-minded teams was bitterly disappointed in the first 45 minutes. The game meandered back and forth between the penalty areas. If there were any chances at all, they came from the visitors. They began to threaten more and more starting in the 20th minute. David Mokwa (37th, 39th) tested Nyland, who reacted strongly once and narrowed the angle so much on another occasion that the visiting striker was forced too far wide.

RB was virtually nonexistent offensively, aside from a half-chance by Antonio Nusa (25th minute). It was evident that Demichelis’s team had never played together in this formation before. The hoped-for freshness—and thus speed—was nowhere to be found. Instead, static play and a lack of creativity dominated the Saxons’ performance.

Substitution at halftime pays off immediately

Demichelis reacted at halftime, bringing on Romulo for the disappointing Andrija Maksimovic and thereby reshaping the attacking formation. Gomis moved to the right wing, a move that immediately paid off. Nusa spotted Gomis making a run and Gomis only had to tap it in.

Now the Saarland team had to open up their compact defense, which gave RB opportunities for counterattacks. Gomis ran onto a 50-meter throw-in from Nyland (57th minute) and forced Nicolas Kristof in the SV goal to make a save with his foot. The decisive pass for the 2-0 goal also came from Nusa in his own half. Romulo’s shot through Kristof’s legs didn’t seem unstoppable.

Elversberg didn’t give up, repeatedly looking for a way to the goal. In doing so, the team often benefited from positioning errors by RB’s fullbacks Max Finkgräfe and Benjamin Henrichs. But they simply created too few dangerous chances. Schmahl (69th min.), unmarked from close range, shot over the crossbar.

As the game wore on, however, their morale waned. In the final quarter-hour, RB had no trouble seeing out the victory. Baumgartner scored with a header on his home comeback after a long injury layoff, and Romulo also found the net once more.