An in-form BVB took on a red-hot RB Leipzig this afternoon but both sides largely cancelled each other out in a tense 1-1 stalemate.
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Borussia Dortmund took on RB Leipzig this afternoon and the guests required all of 7 minutes to open the scoring despite a strong start from the hosts. A free whipped in deep found Assan Ouédraogo who squared into the box for Christoph Baumgartner to thump home from close range.
BVB seemed somewhat stunned as their momentum was halted. The game became scrappy from both sides which suited the visitors. However, Kovač’s men restored parity in a flash when Maxi Beier reversed the ball into Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean unselfishly fed Yan Couto whose slightly deflected shot deceived Peter Gulacsi.
Leipzig thought they regained the lead through Rômulo midway through the first-half. However, the Brazilian marksman strayed offside in the buildup before David Raum played the final pass. A final flurry of the half fell Dortmund’s way but neither Karim Adeyemi or Felix Nmecha could breach the Leipzig rearguard.
Ole Werner’s side made a lively start to the second-half as Rômulo headed wide. Not to be outdone, Serhou Guirassy also tested Gulacsi albeit with a tame effort. Dortmund upped the intensity a bit thereafter as Adeyemi started to dribble menacingly. Minutes later, Julian Ryerson replaced Yan Couto on the right flank.
In a game where momentum swung over and back, Leipzig went close again with 15 minutes remaining as Baumgartner curled wide by a matter of inches. In the next attack, the Austrian forced a fine save out of Kobel. Kovač then called on Fabio Silva and Pascal Groß – the latter almost made an instant impact as he set up Jobe Bellingham whose effort was blocked.
BVB – who largely lost their sense of attack – burst into life in the concluding chapter. Julian Brandt was first to direct a header over the bar by millimetres before Fabio Silva had the ball taken off his toe by Seiwald. A subsequent set-piece felt to Ramy Bensebaini who forces a fine save out of Gulacsi, but that’s how it ended – a share of the spoils.
