Bundesliga
Šeško on target for Leipzig against Young Boys
Benjamin Šeško and Emil Forsberg fired RB Leipzig to victory over Young Boys in their final 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group game.
RB Leipzig 2-1 Young Boys
Goals: 1-0 Šeško 51' (assist: Henrichs), 1-1 Colley 53' (assist: Nsame), 2-1 Forsberg 55' (assist: Kampl)
Already through to the round of 16 as Group G runners-up, Leipzig were much changed from their 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga last weekend. Šeško and Liverpool loanee Fábio Carvalho were among the eight fresh faces, with the duo combining for Leipzig's first real opening just three minutes in. Mohamed Simakan's through-ball picked out Šeško, whose low cross into the six-yard box for Carvalho was cut out at the last. Šeško did put the ball in the net after a brilliant turn and finish moments later, but the goal was ruled out for offside upon VAR review. Young Boys threatened just once in a fairly even first half, with Peter Gulácsi reacting well to push Cheikh Niasse's header from a corner over the crossbar.
Šeško got his goal soon after the restart, the Slovakian with another emphatic finish to kick-start a remarkable five-minute spell. Young Boys went up the other end to equalise through Ebrima Colley after Castella Lukeba had conceded possession to Jean-Pierre Nsame, but parity lasted less than 120 seconds. Kevin Kampl did really well to poke the ball into the Young Boys penalty area for Forsberg, who drove a superb early finish into the far corner. Saidy Janko had a goal ruled out for offside, before former Bochum man Silvère Ganvoula hammered over as the Swiss visitors desperately sought an equaliser. Timo Werner then flunked a presentable late chance to add a third Leipzig goal, the substitute forward slashing high and wide from inside the Young Boys area.
2 - 1(0 - 0)
Leipzig
FINAL
Young Boys
vs
Full-time! Leipzig 2-1 Young Boys
Yes, they can! Leipzig end Group G on 12 points, after doing the double over Young Boys and Red Star. Šeško and Forsberg were the scorers in an entertaining second half, either side of Colley's swift riposte. Just how far can Rose's team go in this season's competition?
90'
vs
Added time
Three minutes to go - can Leipzig hold on for a fourth group win in six?
87'
vs
Wild!
Big chance for a third Leipzig goal, but Werner doesn't make a clean connection and slashes high and wide from inside the Young Boys penalty box. That move had everything but the finish.
84'
vs
Joel Monteiro
81'
vs
Wayward!
A mistake by Schlager gifts the ball to Ganvoula on the edge of the Leipzig area, but he snatches at his shot, firing high into the stand behind Gulácsi's goal.
80'
vs
Xaver Schlager
Castello Lukeba
78'
vs
Worth a crack!
Young Boys have not given up yet as Garcia sends a shot wide from distance.
78'
vs
Close!
Lenz concedes a free-kick for a rash challenge outside his own penalty box. It's touched to former Bochum man Ganvoula, who leathers a rising drive just over.
77'
vs
Christopher Lenz
74'
vs
What a luxury!
So much depth in Leipzig's squad, with Xavi, Openda and Werner all on for the final 15 minutes or so.
74'
vs
Xavi Simons
Emil Forsberg
74'
vs
Loïs Openda
Yussuf Poulsen
74'
vs
Timo Werner
Benjamin Šeško
72'
vs
Disallowed goal!
Young Boys think they've equalised as Janko drives a low finish from the left into the far corner, but it's overturned upon VAR review for an offside.
70'
vs
Darian Males
Filip Ugrinic
70'
vs
Łukasz Łakomy
Sandro Lauper
70'
vs
Yussuf Poulsen
67'
vs
Match stats
Leipzig are still ahead in terms of possession (52 percent), and lead for goal attempts eight to Young Boys' six.
62'
vs
Silvère Ganvoula
Jean-Pierre Nsame
62'
vs
Joel Monteiro
Meschack Elia
61'
vs
Safe hands
Gulácsi gets behind another effort from a corner, this time from Amenda.
59'
vs
Fresh legs
Rose perhaps with an eye on Saturday's home game against Hoffenheim as Klostermann replaces Simakan at centre-back.
59'
vs
Lukas Klostermann
Mohamed Simakan
55'
vs
Leipzig retake the lead!
It's raining goals in Leipzig as Kampl drives forward and pokes a pass into the area for Forsberg, who finds the bottom corner with a really well-taken effort. No one expected him to take the shot on so early.
53'
vs
Young Boys level!
Wow - that wasn't in script! Lukeba concedes possession to Nsame, who races away and crosses into the danger zone, where Colley steals in to finish from close range.
51'
vs
This one counts!
Leipzig forge ahead through Šeško. It's another lovely turn and finish from a similar position inside the box to his earlier effort that was chalked off, but kudos to Poulsen for winning back the ball and feeding Henrichs in the build-up.
49'
vs
Offside!
Niasse finds Nsame all alone in the Leipzig area, but he's miles offside as he balloons over. The home defence stepped up very well, there.
46'
vs
No changes
As you were as play resumes in Leipzig. Rose does have Xavi on the bench...
0 - 0
Kick-off!
45'
vs
Half-time: Leipzig 0-0 Young Boys
Defences on top at the Red Bull Arena, though Šeško did have an early effort ruled out for offside.
0 - 0
Half-time
44'
vs
Into the wall
Amenda is penalised for a foul on Carvalho on the edge of the Young Boys area, but Forsberg can only find the top of the wall with his ensuing effort.
41'
vs
No way through
Lenz sends over a cross towards Šeško, but Young Boys have plenty of men back to see off the impending threat.
38'
vs
Smart defending
Colley looks to be in for a moment, but Lukeba does well to shepherd him away from the Leipzig goal. Garcia then drives over from outside the box.
36'
vs
Speculative effort
Leipzig back off as Colley wellies one into row M from range. Marco Rose looks on pensively...
29'
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Battle of the fans
The Leipzig fans have gone a bit quiet. They're being outdone by the 2,000 or so travelling supporters right now.
33'
vs
Rash challenge
Garcia catches Carvalho late, and can have no complaints with the booking.
33'
vs
Ulisses Garcia
25'
vs
Off target
Seiwald sends a speculative effort wide. Leipzig are not playing with quite the same intensity as they were at the start.
20'
vs
Big save!
He's not played not much this season, but that's a fantastic save by Gulácsi to tip Niasse's glancing header over the bar following an Ugrinic corner.
14'
vs
Leipzig on top
Leipzig are just shading the possession count, despite that dominant start.
9'
vs
Leipzig come again
Šeško's on the prowl again as Carvalho plays a chipped pass up towards the 18-yard box for the Slovakian to chase. Garcia sees off the threat on this occasion, but this is relentless from Leipzig.
6'
vs
Disallowed goal!
Forsberg touches a pass into the feet of Šeško in the penalty box. He shows great composure to roll his marker and fire into the far corner, but there's a check for offside and it won't count.
3'
vs
Denied!
Simakan bypasses the midfield with a brilliant ball up towards Šeško. He pulls it across goal for Carvalho, who has his pockets picked before he can get a shot off.
2'
vs
Front foot
Bright start from Leipzig as Poulsen skates in off the left. He has teammates either side of him, but elects for a shot that's blocked.
2'
vs
Ouch!
Former Hertha Berlin midfielder Fabian Lustenberger clips the heels of Poulsen. He's quick to apologise - that was very late.
Match stats
- Leipzig finish second in Group G on 12 points, six behind holders Manchester City.
- Šeško scored his seventh Leipzig goal, and second in this season's Champions League.
- Forsberg is the highest Champions League scorer among current Leipzig players, with 11 goals in 41 games. He's one of seven players to have been at the club for all six of their Champions League campaigns to date.
- This is the fourth time Leipzig have advanced to the knockouts, since debuting in 2017/18. Their best run was in 2019/20, when they went out at the semi-final stage to PSG.
- Die Roten Bullen have scored in all but three of their 23 home Champions League fixtures, including their last nine in a row dating back to a 2-0 loss to Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool in the 2020/21 round of 16.
- Young Boys have lost eight of 14 meetings with Bundesliga clubs (W3, D3), whilst winning only one of seven on German soil.
Teams
Leipzig: Gulácsi (c) - Henrichs, Simakan (Klostermann 59'), Lukeba (Schlager 80), Lenz - Kampl, Seiwald - Carvalho, Forsberg (Xavi 74') - Poulsen (Openda 74'), Šeško (Werner 74')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Haidara, Baumgartner, Raum
Out: Olmo (shoulder), Orban (knee), Zingerle (knock)
Coach: Marco Rose
Young Boys: Von Ballmoos - Janko, Amenda, Lustenberger (c), Garcia - Colley, Niasse, Ugrinic (Males 70') - Elia (Monteiro 62'), Lauper (Lakomy 70'), Nsame (Ganvoula 62')
Unused subs: Racioppi, Marzino, Camara, Chaiwa, Persson, Rrudhani, Benito, Blum
Out: Imeri (knee), Itten (foot)
Coach: Raphaël Wicky
As it happened!