RB Leipzig vs Dortmund Review
RB Leipzig managed to avoid their first-ever stretch of five Bundesliga matches without a win, thanks to a goal and an assist from Xavi Simons in a 2-0 victory over Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena. Serhou Guirassy tested Péter Gulácsi with a low shot early in the match, which seemed to energize Leipzig. They soon hit the crossbar through Loïs Openda and took the lead in the 18th minute when David Raum’s powerful shot was deflected into the path of Benjamin Šeško, who inadvertently set up Xavi Simons to score from the center of the box.
The hosts continued to press forward after scoring the first goal, and Marcel Sabitzer suffered an injury while blocking a shot from Christoph Baumgartner, followed by Ridle Baku hitting the crossbar. Dortmund seemed fortunate to head into halftime just one goal behind, but they nearly equalized when Karim Adeyemi cut in and had a low shot saved by Gulácsi during first half stoppage time.
However, Leipzig quickly extended their lead just minutes into the second half. Xavi delivered a corner that found Openda, who executed a stunning side-footed volley into the far corner. This finally sparked the visitors into action, with Maximilian Beier showcasing their resolve by hitting the woodwork twice in quick succession, followed by Adeyemi, whose powerful shot was tipped onto the bar by Gulácsi.
Dortmund’s reaction after conceding for the second time was commendable, but they squandered numerous opportunities due to poor finishing. In the end, the visitors couldn’t score even once, leading to their fourth defeat in six league games under Kovač. While this win doesn’t propel Leipzig into the top four, it does mark their second victory in 10 league matches in 2025, bringing them temporarily level on points with Eintracht Frankfurt.
