José María Giménez made up for a bad start for RB Leipzig in the first half with his header in the 90th minute. Champions League For a long time, the Saxon Bundesliga club believed they would gain a point at Atlético Madrid. But in the end, the 1:2 (1:1) was also the first defeat for Leipzig after 16 unbeaten competitive matches.
Benjamin Sesko gave RB an early lead at the Estadio Metropolitano (4th minute). Antoine Griezmann scored the more than deserved equaliser (28th minute) before Giménez sent the stadium into overdrive.
Kampl has to pass
RB announced the first bad news shortly before kick-off: midfielder Kevin Kampl was unable to play due to muscle problems. Arthur Vermeeren, on loan from Madrid, started for him for the first time since his move. In addition, Leipzig had to make do without some of their 700 or so travelling fans. Heavy rain shortly before kick-off caused the metro line to temporarily be cancelled in the direction of the stadium.
But unimpressed by these negative side effects, the Saxons started furiously. After Sesko scored in the goalless 0:0 against the 1. FC Union Berlin After having had major problems in the league, he immediately showed his qualities when he returned to the center of the attack. In the fourth minute, the Slovenian headed home his fourth goal in the Champions League and gave the home side their first goal against them in front of a home crowd this season.
With combined forces
The already frenetic Atlético fans once again put in more effort and supported their team even more loudly. RB defense chief Willi Orban, who returned to the starting line-up after a league suspension, had declared the day before that the “heated atmosphere” would spur him and his teammates on. But this only applied to the initial phase. The Leipzig defenders struggled to thwart the first furious counterattacks.
Especially after a mistake by goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, Orban and Co. had to do everything they could to avert the danger (16th minute). Just eight minutes later, Castello Lukeba prevented the goal with a sliding tackle after a mistake in the build-up play and immediately afterwards a header from Ángel Correa, extended after a corner, landed on the inside post.
Gulacsi was able to clear it off the line. Leipzig barely managed to relieve the pressure. Griezmann’s equaliser was therefore only a matter of time. Even after the goal, the hosts had more of the game, but missed too many chances.
400th game for Poulsen
Rose reacted early in the second half, bringing on the Austrian Christoph Baumgartner for the rather ineffective debutant Antonia Nusa. His compatriot Nicolas Seiwald was also allowed to play in the same position as Vermeeren, who was sent off on loan from the Rojiblancos with great applause in the stadium. On the other side, ex-Leipzig player Alexander Sörloth was allowed to play.
RB’s biggest chance after the break came from substitute Yussuf Poulsen. In his 400th competitive game for Leipzig, the Dane set up Xavi Simons in the penalty area, but the Dutchman unfortunately smashed the ball over the goal (72′). Poulsen himself narrowly missed the RB lead with a header four minutes later. Griezmann also forced Gulacsi (79′) to make a brilliant save with a header, but it was offside.
Leipzig had just managed to calm the game down a bit and create chances of their own when the hosts, driven by their coach Diego Simeone, who was cheering them on tirelessly from the sidelines, increased the pace again. Griezmann (81′) only hit the side netting from a tight angle. Giménez did better in the final minute of normal time. (dpa)
