Bundesliga
Olmo dazzles as Leipzig progress
Dani Olmo scored one and provided three assists as reigning DFB Cup holders RB Leipzig blew Freiburg away with a 5-1 semi-final victory on Tuesday.
Freiburg 1-5 Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Olmo 13' (assist: Halstenberg), 0-2 Henrichs 14' (assist: Olmo), 0-3 Szoboszlai 36' (assist: Olmo), 0-4 Nkunku 45'+1 (assist: Olmo), 1-4 Gregoritsch 75' (assist: Sallai), 1-5 Szoboszlai (pen. 90'+7)
Sent off: Gvardiol (58')
As the home side, Freiburg harboured hopes of exacting a measure of revenge on Die Roten Bullen for defeat in last year's final, and they very nearly went ahead inside two minutes following a sweeping move, only for Amadou Haidara to nick the ball of Michael Gregoritsch's toe as he was about to shoot. That was about as good as it got for the Black Forest club in the first half, however. Christopher Nkunku dragged a shot wide moments later with a warning shot the hosts failed to heed, with Olmo soon heading in the opener from Marcel Halstenberg's cross. Olmo then produced an exquisite cushioned pass for Benjamin Henrichs to double Leipzig's lead 90 seconds later, and the Spaniard also played the killer balls for Dominik Szoboszlai and Nkunku to give Marco Rose's side an unassailable half-time lead.
Freiburg were given a glimmer of hope in the second half when Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Roland Sallai. Janis Blaswich produced a stunning save from Vincenzo Grifo from the resulting free-kick as the home crowd urged their players forward, but Leipzig responded by switching to a five-man backline and taking off Nkunku and Olmo as they protected their lead. Christian Streich's side did manage to pull a goal back when Gregoritsch expertly guided in a header from Sallai's right-wing cross, but Szoboszlai's stoppage-time penalty with the last kick of the game sealed the deal for Leipzig as they booked their ticket to the final in Berlin in June, where they will face either VfB Stuttgart or Eintracht Frankfurt.
Match stats
- Leipzig have reached their third successive DFB Cup final, and fourth in five years.
- Nkunku has 18 goals in 30 games in all competitions this season, including two in his last two outings.
- Die Roten Bullen are unbeaten in their last eight competitive meetings with Freiburg, winning four - including last year's final.
- Five-goal Timo Werner is level with Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani as the 2022/23 DFB Cup's joint highest scorer.
- Gregoritsch has 15 goals in 39 appearances for Freiburg in his debut season at the club.
- Grifo has scored a team-leading 13 Bundesliga goals this season, but hasn't fired in the DFB Cup since the club's 2021/22 semi-final win over Hamburg on 19 April 2022.
Teams
Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart - Sildillia (Grifo 20'), Eggestein (Keitel 46'), Höfler, Günter (c) (Weißhaupt 79') - Doan (Sallai 46'), Höler (Petersen 76'), Gregoritsch
Unused subs: Atubolu, Gulde, Jeong, Röhl
Out: Kyereh (cruciate ligament)
Coach: Christian Streich
Leipzig: Blaswich - Henrichs, Orban (c), Gvardiol, Halstenberg (Raum 61') - Laimer (Diallo 87'), Haidara, Szoboszlai - Nkunku (Simakan 61'), Werner (Poulsen 79'), Olmo (Klostermann 61')
Unused subs: Nyland, Forsberg, Silva
Out: Gulacsi (knee), Schlager (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose
As it happened!
1 - 5(0 - 4)
Freiburg
FINAL
Leipzig
90' +7
vs
Szoboszlai scores!
Flekken guesses right, but the spot-kick has too much power, too much precision.
90' +6
vs
Penalty!
Diallo finds Simakan following a short corner routine. Kübler rushes in and concedes a penalty...
90' +6
vs
Playing the clock down
Leipzig have the ball in the corner...
87'
vs
Abdou Diallo
Konrad Laimer
90' +3
vs
Dangerous challenge
Sallai's very late on Diallo, but escapes with just a caution.
90' +3
vs
Roland Sallai
89'
vs
Time added on
Seven minutes is the decision, after those earlier stoppages.
86'
vs
Bound for Berlin
Laimer's booked for a foul on the lively Weißhaupt. Leipzig just need to keep a lid on things. They don't wany any more suspensions for the final, where the winner of tomorrow's tie between Stuttgart and Frankfurt awaits.
85'
vs
Konrad Laimer
81'
vs
Right idea
The subs combine, but Petersen can't direct Weißhaupt's cross on goal.
79'
vs
Yussuf Poulsen
Timo Werner
79'
vs
Noah Weißhaupt
Christian Günter
76'
vs
Who you gonna call?
Nils Petersen - the Bundesliga's record substitute scorer. If Freiburg can get a second goal, the fans will blow the roof off...
76'
vs
Nils Petersen
Lucas Höler
75'
vs
Freiburg pull one back!
Well, well. Gregoritsch makes his next chance count, getting up between two Leipzig defenders to head home a fine cross from Sallai. They couldn't, could they...?
71'
vs
Wide from Gregoritsch!
The Austrian gets up well to meet Günter's left-wing cross, but he's 15 yards out and doesn't have the neck muscles to test Blaswich.
68'
vs
Tempers flare
Kübler catches Orban late after an attempt to get a shot away in the box. He then shoves Blaswich to the ground in the ensuing melee. Both end up with their names in referee Sven Jablonski's little black book.
68'
vs
Janis Blaswich
68'
vs
Lukas Kübler
65'
vs
Simakan knock
There's an anxious moment for 10-man Leipzig as Simakan stays down after contesting an aerial ball with Günter. The Frenchman eventually makes his way to his feet, though, and appears OK to continue.
61'
vs
Triple change
Simakan replaces Leipzig puppet master Olmo. Raum and Klostermann are also on as Rose switches to five at the back. Nkunku and Halstenberg are the other players to make way.
61'
vs
Lukas Klostermann
Christopher Nkunku
61'
vs
Mohamed Simakan
Dani Olmo
61'
vs
David Raum
Marcel Halstenberg
60'
vs
Big save!
Blaswich dives to his left to beat away the ensuing free-kick from Grifo. The Freiburg fans are making a real racket again.
58'
vs
Leipzig reduced to 10 men!
Gvardiol is shown a straight red card for pulling down Sallai. He'll miss the final, assuming Leipzig don't succumb to a monumental Freiburg comeback...
58'
vs
Joško Gvardiol
56'
vs
VAR check
The match referee indicates his intention to check the pitchside monitor after Sallai goes down under Gvardiol's attempted challenge. It was outside the box, but it's a question of whether it's a red-card offence...
51'
vs
Leipzig in control
The visitors are hogging the ball, patiently awaiting a chance to prise open the Freiburg defence. They have no reason to force the issue. This could be a long second period for Streich's crestfallen charges, who went into the contest riding the crest of a wave after eliminating Bayern in the previous round...
47'
vs
Laimer!
Laimer's allowed to swivel on the edge of the Freiburg area and ping a shot goalwards. Flekken's at full stretch to parry, but Szoboszlai can't connect properly with the loose ball.
46'
vs
Long way back
Fresh Freiburg legs for the start of the second half. Stranger things have happened, but this is surely about restoring a measure of pride before the sides do it all again in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
46'
vs
Yannik Keitel
Maximilian Eggestein
46'
vs
Roland Sallai
Ritsu Dōan
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +1
vs
Nkunku adds a fourth
It goes from bad to worse for Freiburg. Olmo's the architect again with a superb disguised pass into the feet of Nkunku in the box. He spins to face goal and leaves Flekken with no chance with the finish.
40'
vs
Szoboszlai!
That's not far away at all from Szoboszlai, who crashes a swerving strike just over the crossbar from range. We all know he has an eye for the spectacular...
39'
vs
Wide!
Gregoritsch takes aim from 15 yards out, but doesn't find the target. For a moment, it looked like the net was going to bulge. Freiburg have to keep plugging away...
36'
vs
Leipzig strike again!
They're running away with it! Haidara slides a pass into opposition territory. Szoboszlai takes it on via Laimer, before exchanging passes with Werner and bending an ice-cold finish around the advancing Flekken.
33'
vs
Risky business!
Gvardiol is far too casual with his attempted pass back to Blaswich. Höler's on it like a flash, but Blaswich is quick to the danger to block behind off the Freiburg forward.
26'
vs
Freiburg take charge
Freiburg are much improved since that tactical change. Leipzig are having a lot of defending to do, without the opportunities to break as they did for that second goal.
22'
vs
Half chance!
Eggestein does well to clip a cross into the Leipzig area. Ginter gets his head to it, but it's some distance from goal and he glances comfortably wide. Leipzig get themselves into a muddle following the ensuing goal-kick, with Blaswich haring off his line to clear before Gregoritsch can take advantage.
19'
vs
Talking tactics
Sildillia is sacrificed as Streich reverts to a four-man defence. Top scorer Grifo, with 15 goals in all competitions so far this term, is on.
19'
vs
Vincenzo Grifo
Kiliann Sildillia
14'
vs
Leipzig with the quick one-two
Mountain to climb for the hosts now. Olmo shifts the ball up to Szoboszlai after a Freiburg attack breaks down. Werner collects and plays a ball into the feet of Henrichs, who controls well and fires home from a central position on the edge of the area. Leipzig with the power play - just 89 seconds between the goals.