“I’ve never seen that” – Labbadia complains about the wrong decision
RB Leipzig has extended its winning streak and has now gone 16 games unbeaten. The Saxons defeated the weakened VfB Stuttgart thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai. With the victory, the gap to FC Bayern is only one point.
ALed by marksman Dominik Szoboszlai, RB Leipzig continued their winning streak and massively increased the pressure on leaders Bayern Munich. The 2-1 (1-0) win over VfB Stuttgart, who had been weakened by replacements, temporarily moved the cup winners, who have been unbeaten in 16 games, to second place in the Bundesliga and to just one point behind Bayern. In front of 46,158 fans, Szoboszlai (25th minute/49th) provided the highlights with his magic goals in the sometimes hectic game on Friday evening. Chris Führich (68th) reduced the penalty with a hand penalty.
“We haven’t lost for a long time, but it was by no means easy today. Stuttgart did well,” said Leipzig full-back Benjamin Henrichs after the game.
Marco Rose was already aware of that: “It is important that we keep at it, stay greedy. You always have to be razor-sharp, every second,” Leipzig’s coach had demanded. The coach’s admonishing words were not without reason, because RB was by no means as ultra-dominant as in the 6-1 win at Schalke. There were always sloppiness, but Leipzig had Szoboszlai.
The Hungarian scored his second Bundesliga brace against his favorite opponent. The 22-year-old scored twice in the 4-0 win against VfB last season. The midfielder, who came from sister club RB Salzburg two years ago, is becoming more and more of a fixture.
The Stuttgart team did well in the early stages, even had more of the game and better chances, such as when Thomas Kastanaras shot. The regional league striker, who was in the starting eleven for the first time, tested Janis Blaswich with a long-range shot (9th).
The 20-year-old Kastanaras was one of five newcomers to the Stuttgart starting eleven compared to the Hoffenheim game. “I wondered if it had already happened in my career that five of the starting eleven couldn’t play three days later. I don’t think I’ve experienced it. That’s a blow, no question about it,” said coach Bruno Labbadia, who started with two draws in the first two games since his return to VfB.
Praise after bankruptcy: Bruno Labbadia was satisfied with the performance of his players
Source: dpa/Hendrik Schmidt
“When Leipziger Bank begs the referee to blow the whistle, then we know we played well,” he analyzed after the 90 minutes: “Sensational leadership from a team that had to suffer a lot. We can’t buy anything from it, but what the guys did was awesome. I also told the team that.”
Referee and goalkeeper allow 1:0
The staff-stricken Stuttgart did not present themselves as relegated. And yet the Leipzig gate was a gift. Goalkeeper Florian Müller did not look good when Szoboszlai scored a free kick from a good 30 meters out, the ball slipped over his hands. “It wasn’t a foul. You can see he’s playing the ball,” said VfB defense chief Waldemar Anton, criticizing the referee’s decision that led to the free kick. “You can’t get a better ball capture in counterpressing. I’ve never seen how you can blow the whistle. It doesn’t get any better than that. I can’t think of much. (…) It’s shit”, Labbadia also commented on the scene. In fact, the whistle against Wataru Endo was more than doubtful.
After that, Leipzig had the game under control. RB created opportunities again and again on the left in the person of national player David Raum, who came on for Marcel Halstenberg. André Silva had three good chances to head the ball, one of which hit the outside of the post (32′).
Goalscorer and enabler: Dominik Szoboszlai (left) converted the free-kick won by Dani Olmo
Quelle: Getty Images/Stuart Franklin
The Swabians also got off to a better start in the second half when Nikolas Nartey put the ball just wide of the goal (46′) in front of Blaswich. Szoboszlai did better on the other side. After VfB defender Josha Vagnoman headed the ball straight to Silva when he was passed in, Szoboszlai staged the game, and his volley made what was supposed to be the preliminary decision. But the Croatian World Cup star Josko Gvardiol made it exciting again. After an unnecessary handball, Felix Zwayer decided to take a penalty after a long video study, which Führich used.
“We had our chances to take something countable here. But we did quite well and, given our overall situation, we knew beforehand that it would be difficult,” said the scorer, who looked confidently ahead: “We’re on the right track.”
