José María Giménez hat mit seinem Kopfballtor in der 90. Minute für einen Fehlstart von RB Leipzig in der Champions League gesorgt. Lange Zeit glaubte der sächsische Bundesligaklub an einen Punktgewinn bei Atlético Madrid.
Doch am Ende ist das 1:2 (1:1) zugleich die erste Niederlage der Leipziger nach 16 ungeschlagen Pflichtspielen. Benjamin Sesko brachte RB im Estadio Metropolitano früh in Führung (4. Minute). Den mehr als verdienten Ausgleich erzielte Antoine Griezmann (28.), ehe Giménez das Stadion ausflippen ließ.
Eine erste schlechte Nachricht verkündete Rasenballsport kurz vor dem Anpfiff: Mittelfeldspieler Kevin Kampl konnte aufgrund von Muskelproblemen nicht mitwirken. Für ihn startete zum ersten Mal seit seinem Wechsel die Madrider Leihgabe Arthur Vermeeren. Zudem mussten die Leipziger zunächst ohne einen Teil ihrer rund 700 mitgereisten Anhänger auskommen. Ein Starkregen kurz vor Anpfiff sorgte für einen zwischenzeitlichen Ausfall der Metro-Linie in Richtung Stadion.
Doch unbeeindruckt von diesen negativen Begleiterscheinungen legten die Sachsen furios los. Nachdem Sesko beim torlosen 0:0 gegen den 1. FC Union Berlin in der Liga noch große Probleme gehabt hatte, zeigte er bei der Rückkehr ins Sturmzentrum direkt seine Qualitäten. In der vierten Minute erzielte der Slowene per Kopf seinen vierten Treffer in der Königsklasse und fügte den Hausherren das erste Gegentor vor heimischer Kulisse in dieser Saison zu.
The already frenzied Atletico supporters went even further and supported their team even more loudly. Red Bull's defensive chief Willi Orban, who had returned to the starting lineup after the league suspension, had explained the day before that the “hot atmosphere” would push him and his teammates to continue. But that probably only applied to the initial phase. Leipzig's defenders had difficulty thwarting the first furious counterattacks.
Especially after a mistake by goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, Orban and his teammates had to do everything they could to avoid danger (16th place). Just eight minutes later, Castillo denied Lukeba a goal after a mistake in the build-up and immediately afterwards, Angel Correa's header, stretched from a corner, fell on the post. Gulacsi managed to catch it off the line.
In the second half, Rose reacted early and brought on Austrian Christoph Baumgartner to replace the somewhat ineffective newcomer Antonia Nossa. His compatriot Nicolas Seewald was also allowed to replace Vermeeren, who had been sent on loan from the Rojiblancos to great applause around the stadium. On the other side, former Leipzig player Alexander Sorloth was allowed to play.
Substitute Yussuf Poulsen started the right-back's biggest chance after the change. In his 400th competitive match for Leipzig, the Dane set up Xavi Simons inside the penalty area, but the Dutchman unfortunately shot the ball over (72). Poulsen himself narrowly missed giving the right-back the lead with a header four minutes later. Griezmann also forced Gulacsi into a great save (79) with a header, but it was ruled offside.
Leipzig could only calm the game down a bit and create chances, when the home side increased the number of shots again, led by their coach Diego Simeone, who was cheering tirelessly from the bench. Griezmann (81) shot into the side netting from a tight angle. Jimenez performed better in the last minute of regular time.
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