Werner orchestrates Leipzig win over Frankfurt

RB Leipzig 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Werner 6’ (assist: Forsberg), 2-0 Forsberg 40’ (assist: Werner), 2-1 Sow 61’ (assist: Buta)

Boosted by an excellent second-half display that saw them claim a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League during the week, Leipzig raced out of the blocks in this top-six tussle. Marcel Halstenberg and Emil Forsberg both had early attempts before Werner struck with only six minutes on the clock, racing onto Forsberg’s through ball and slotting past Kevin Trapp despite stumbling. Things quietened down after that in a first half that produced the fewest fouls of any opening 45 minutes in the Bundesliga this season (four). It took Eintracht 35 minutes to conjure up a shot when Philipp Max hit a free-kick into the wall after Randal Kolo Muani was fouled by Willi Orban. Die Roten Bullen would double their advantage shortly before the break when Werner returned the favour to Forsberg, squaring for the Sweden international to tap in at the far post.

There were no changes in personnel but definitely in attitude from Frankfurt as they came back out for the second half. Jesper Lindstrom and Kolo Muani both forced Janis Blaswich into his first saves of the game. The visitors then had their goal as Djibril Sow hammered home after controlling a cross from substitute Aurelio Buta just past the hour mark. Leipzig had just sent on Christopher Nkunku as he continued his return to full fitness, but it was Eintracht who remained on the front foot pushing for that equaliser. However, it just wouldn’t come for the UEFA Europa League holders as the reigning DFB Cup winners held on to claim the three points needed to keep in the thick of the title race, just a single point off Bayern Munich and Union Berlin before their Sunday fixture, and four off overnight leaders Borussia Dortmund. Eintracht now find themselves eight off the pace in sixth.

• Werner took his tally for the campaign to six, ending a 374-minute goal drought in the Bundesliga stretching back to Matchday 17.
• Five of his six have come at home, while three of his total have put Leipzig 1-0 ahead.
• Forsberg moved onto four goals in the Bundesliga this term, scoring in back-to-back games for the first time in 2022/23.
• Sow’s third of the campaign equals his personal best in a Bundesliga season.
• Leipzig ended a six-game winless run against Eintracht in the Bundesliga (D4, L2), getting their first victory in this fixture since August 2019.
• Frankfurt are yet to win a Bundesliga game away at RBL (D3, L4). They have only visited Waldhof Mannheim as often in the top flight without ever getting a victory.

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Leipzig: Blaswich - Henrichs (Simakan 90'+1), Orban (c), Gvardiol, Halstenberg - Laimer, Kampl (Schlager 69’) - Szoboszlai, Forsberg (Haidara 69’), Werner (Silva 69’) - Poulsen (Nkunku 59’)
Unused subs: Nyland, Raum, Clark
Out: Diallo (knee), Gulacsi (knee), Klostermann (adductor), Olmo (thigh)
Coach: Marco Rose

Frankfurt: Trapp - Tuta, Hasebe (Alario 88’), Smolcic - Knauff (Lenz 60’), Sow, Rode (c) (Jakic 60’), Max (Buta 60’) - Kamada (Borre 79’), Lindstrom - Kolo Muani
Unused subs: Ramaj, Ndicka, Alidou, Aaronson
Out: Dina Ebimbe (ankle), Götze (back)
Coach: Oliver Glasner