Haidara reignites Leipzig's top-four challenge in the capital

Hertha Berlin 0-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Haidara 40'

Leipzig started brightly as Timo Werner shot wide in the third minute. Oliver Christensen fumbled a shot wide, before Josko Gvardiol headed off target from a corner. The visitors continued to ask all the questions of the relegation-threatened capital club as Benjamin Henrichs went to ground in the Hertha area under Marc-Oliver Kempf's challenge. It went to a VAR review, but no penalty was awarded. VAR was called on again when Haidara bundled in after Christensen fumbled a corner under pressure from Mohamed Simakan. This time, the decision went the way of Leipzig to give them a deserved half-time lead.

Leipzig more or less picked up where they left off after the restart as David Raum's deflected cross found the grateful arms of Christensen, and Dominik Szoboszlai chanced his arm from range. Hertha's best opening fell to Kevin-Prince Boateng, whose shot following a driving Dodi Lukebakio run was charged down. After Suat Serdar made Janis Blaswich work, Christensen was called on to repel Szoboszlai. Substitute Andre Silva was first to the rebound, but could only find the side netting. Holding on for a first league win in three, Leipzig move back about Freiburg into fourth, whilst leaving Hertha in the relegation zone.

• Haidara scored his second Bundesliga goal of the season, and fourth in 104 top-flight appearances.
• Leipzig have more wins against Hertha (12 from 14 games) than any Bundesliga team they've faced.
• They've also won all their last seven games away to the Old Lady.
• Christopher Nkunku is the most prolific of 17 different goalscorers at Leipzig this season. League wide, only Bayer Leverkusen can boast such a spread (also 17).
• Hertha have the joint-worst defensive record of the Rückrunde (20 goals conceded).

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Hertha: Christensen - Uremovic (Niederlechner 74'), Kempf, Dardai - Kenny (Richter 62'), Tousart, Cigerci (Serdar 62'), Boateng (Ngankam 62'), Plattenhardt (c) - Lukebakio, Kanga (Jovetic 74')
Unused subs: Ernst, Vogel, Mittelstädt, Sunjic
Out: Boetius (shoulder), Ejuke (knee), Jarstein (not considered), Nsona (knee)
Coach: Sandro Schwarz

Leipzig: Blaswich - Simakan, Orban (c), Gvardiol - Henrichs, Kampl, Haidara (Klostermann 78') Raum (Halstenberg 84') - Szoboszlai, Werner (Silva 63'), Forsberg (Olmo 63')
Unused subs: Nyland, Ba, Diallo, Laimer
Doubtful: Gulacsi (knee), Nkunku (thigh), Poulsen (calf), Schlager (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose