Couto earns BVB point against Leipzig

Borussia Dortmund 1-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Baumgartner 7’, 1-1 Couto 23’

Two of the Bundesliga's in-form teams met in Dortmund on Matchday 6, with both BVB and Leipzig both having won their last four games in Germany's top flight.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovač made four changes to the side that beat Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, bringing in Couto, Nico Schlotterbeck, Maximilian Beier and Felix Nmecha, while Antonio Nusa replaced Yan Diomande in the visitors' only change from last weekend's victory at Wolfsburg.

Dortmund started the brighter of the two sides, with Ramy Bensebaini heading just over from a Daniel Svensson corner in the fifth minute. The hosts were made to pay for that miss just moments later when Nicolas Seiwald's deep cross found Assan Ouédraogo, who headed back across goal for Christoph Baumgartner to fire home from close range. Leipzig thought they had doubled their advantage when Johan Bakayoko was sent racing clear by Rômulo, but the forward's effort was ruled out for offside.

The hosts responded well, however, and restored parity when Beier's cross was flicked on by Serhou Guirassy into the path of Couto, who steered a low shot into the back of the net.

Leipzig came flying out of the blocks after the restart, with Rômulo heading narrowly over from Ridle Baku's cross before Ouédraogo dragged a long-range effort wide. Dortmund weathered the storm and created a golden opportunity of their own when a quick counter-attack saw Couto find Guirassy in the box, but Péter Gulácsi was equal to the Guinean's effort. In a nail-biting end to the contest, Kobel tipped Baumgartner's curling shot over the crossbar in the 80th minute, while Julian Brandt headed a over the bar from Svensson's cross. Despite late pressure from the hosts, there was no separating the two teams at the final whistle.

The wing-back was instrumental on Saturday afternoon, not only scoring the equaliser but covering every blade of grass down the right-hand side. Couto, who picked up 58 percent of the vote in the Man of the Match poll, continued to cause the visitors problems after opening his Bundesliga account from Guirassy's lay-off, troubling the Leipzig rearguard with his direct runs and teasing crosses before being replaced by Julian Ryerson on the hour mark.

Couto's pass efficiency rating of 4.38 was the highest of any player on the pitch, highlighting his technical quality and impact on Dortmund's build-up play.

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Dortmund 1.15 - Leipzig 1.02
Fastest player: Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund), 34.21 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-1 by Yan Couto (Dortmund), 16.56 percent
Most pressed player: Johan Bakayoko (Leipzig), 28 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Yan Couto (Dortmund), +4.38

Fantasy Heroes: Christoph Baumgartner (Leipzig, 278 Points), Yan Couto (Dortmund, 267 Points), Ramy Bensebaini (Dortmund, 227 Points)