Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 RB Leipzig
For the second time in the space of a couple of weeks, Eintracht Frankfurt have picked up a huge home win over RB Leipzig. This time, the Eagles soared to a 3-1 victory in the DFB-Pokal.
Filip Kostic fired a brace for Frankfurt, who defied the DFB-Pokal 2020 betting odds and knocked out last year’s finalists.
Leipzig opted not to start star striker Timo Werner ahead of their huge Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich this weekend.
As a result, the Red Bulls were unable to pick up the morale-boosting win they desperately needed. They will head into that key match against the leaders in awful form, having gone winless in their last three matches, with two defeats to Frankfurt.
Highlights of the game
Even with Werner starting the match on the bench, Leipzig began on the front foot. Patrik Schick had the first real sight on goal after just three minutes. Although, he probably should have tried to square the ball across goal as captain Marcel Sabitzer made a run into the six-yard box.
Leipzig came even closer to taking the lead on 10 minutes through Amadou Haidara. However, the young Malian midfielder’s shot went just wide of goal.
The visitors would squander yet another glorious opportunity just moments later. After forcing a turnover following the goal kick, Schick’s shot was well saved by Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp.
Leipzig’s wastefulness in front of goal would be duly punished on 14 minutes as Frankfurt were awarded a penalty. A VAR review confirmed that Marcel Halstenberg’s hand made contact with the ball as he tried to clear a dangerous cross.
Up stepped Andre Silva, and the Portuguese striker made no mistake as he sent the hosts in front from the penalty spot.
Schick and Haidara had their chances to equalise before half-time, but they were both unable to hit the target as Frankfurt went into the break with the lead. And it took them just six minutes to double it.
A loose pass from Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano led to a lightning-quick Frankfurt break. Filip Kostic had Andre Silva in support, but he didn’t need it as he took the ball all the way and finished expertly past Yvon Mvogo.
Frankfurt very nearly put the game to bed on 58 minutes as Mijat Gacinovic’s effort hit the side netting.
With Leipzig reeling, manager Julian Nagelsmann finally brought Werner in for the final half-hour, and the German international was involved in Leipzig pulling a goal back.
Werner supplied a lovely dummy as he allowed Angelino’s cross to reach another substitute in Dani Olmo, who produced a brilliant finish from the edge of the penalty area. Game on.
But just five minutes later, Frankfurt very nearly restored their two-goal advantage. Martin Hinteregger’s header from a Kostic free-kick was goal-bound, but Mvogo made a great reaction save to deny the Frankfurt defender.
The hosts eventually got their third goal, and just like in their first meeting, Kostic sewed things up in stoppage time. The Serbian got on the end of a Goncalo Paciencia flick-on header and once again delivered a clinical finish to bag his brace.
Frankfurt move on to the quarter-finals, while the Red Bulls crash out and continue to look for answers on how to solve their current slump.
Key statistics
Leipzig finished with the lion’s share of possession (58 per cent to 42) and had 14 shots to nine. Although, this was expected as they had to chase down Frankfurt for most of the match.
Werner was unable to make many DFB-Pokal 2020 highlights as he got off just one shot in the half-hour he played.
On the other hand, new signing Dani Olmo had three shots (two on target) after coming on at the start of the second half. The Spanish midfielder has had a fine start to his Leipzig career with two goals in his first two games.
What’s next?
Up next for RB Leipzig is a huge visit to Bayern Munich in a match that will have major ramifications in the Bundesliga title race. But the Red Bulls are nowhere near their best at the moment.
Aside from their two losses to Frankfurt, they also drew 2-2 against Borussia Monchengladbach, a match they likely would’ve lost if Gladbach hadn’t gone down to 10 men.
The SBOBET odds were already in the Bavarians’ favour since they’re at home, but with Leipzig’s poor form, the signs are pointing even more strongly toward another Bayern win.
As for Frankfurt, they will look to carry over the momentum they’ve gathered onto their next match, which is at home against Augsburg. The Fuggerstädter finally snapped their three-match losing run with a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen last time out.
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