VfB Stuttgart is RB Leipzig’s favourite opponent. But it was tough for a long time against the Swabians. Only in the second half did RB show its class.
Turned the game around, avoided a false start, celebrated a resounding victory: Thanks to an outstanding second half, RB Leipzig defeated VfB Stuttgart 5:1 (0:1) and averted a bad start at home with a demonstration of power. Benjamin Henrichs (51st minute), Dani Olmo (63rd), Lois Openda (66th), Kevin Kampl (74th) and Xavi Simons (76th) scored for the Saxons. Serhou Guirassy (35th) had given Stuttgart the lead after a serious mistake by national player David Raum.
In front of 46,084 fans, referee Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück) and his colleagues in the Cologne video cellar were often in the spotlight. Twice they checked for a penalty (there was none), twice they checked for a goal by Openda (there was only one). In the end, the referee team was right in every decision.
For the home opener, coach Marco Rose first made a personnel change. Timo Werner, who had not scored in 716 minutes, had to go on the bench and Yussuf Poulsen took his place. Against the deep standing Swabians, Rose expected more force and aggressiveness in the run-up, which the Dane promptly delivered. But Stuttgart, who had only two points from ten duels with Leipzig so far, were not really confronted with problems from the high pressing – and had the first opportunity. Chris Führich took a shot, RB keeper Janis Blaswich blocked, but Guirassy fired over.
After the 2:3 loss in the opening game in Leverkusen, Rose had again emphasised that the team needed time after the upheaval. The loss of key players such as Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai was soon evident. Leipzig had more possession and combined well. But there was no danger of scoring, no flash of inspiration in the final third. Openda did not fire his first shot until the 28th minute, Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel did not even have to intervene.
On the other side, David Raum made a capital error. The national defender played the ball in front of his own penalty area directly into the foot of Atakan Karazor, who passed on to Guirassy – 0:1. Leipzig only woke up in injury time. First Openda (45.+3) failed free in front of goal against Nübel, then RB demanded a penalty after an alleged foul by Guirassy on Willi Orban. However, the attacker had been pushed by Poulsen, which was confirmed by video evidence. Rose saw it differently and stormed towards referee Willenborg after the half-time whistle – yellow card. Co-coach Alexander Zickler prevented worse by pushing Rose back.
Two minutes after the restart, Willenborg and his colleagues were again in the spotlight in the Cologne video cellar. After a free-kick from Raum, Orban headed in and Nübel made an outstanding reflex save from close range. However, Orban was hit on the neck with his foot by VfB defender Waldemar Anton in the action shortly after the header. Willenborg looked at the scene several times – and did not give a penalty.
But Leipzig was now on it, aggressively going for every ball. Henrichs ran into Nübel after a back pass and blocked the keeper’s free kick into the goal. Two minutes later, Nübel made another mistake. A cross from Poulsen was clattered directly in front of Openda’s feet. 2:1. Not quite. Again the video referee called in. The Leipzig striker was just offside.
But RB did not allow itself to be distracted and hardly left any room for Stuttgart. Olmo took the lead after a brilliant ball transfer, and Openda followed up just three minutes later. When the Belgian scored, the video referee again checked for offside, but this time everything was fine. And now everything went right. The notoriously goal-less Kampl scored after a deflected shot, and two minutes later newcomer Simons was successful. Stuttgart was mentally broken.