LEIPZIG REVIVES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOPES AFTER BEATING DORTMUND IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.
Konrad Laimer contributed to three goals, as RB Leipzig extended their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to ten matches with a 4-1 rout against Borussia Dortmund.
With victories in their last five away matches, RB Leipzig always carried a threat against a side they defeated 2-1 in the reverse fixture in November. Yet, with the Bundesliga’s joint-best return of 11 wins from 13 home matches this season, Borussia Dortmund started confidently in front of the frantic Signal Iduna Park, and Erling Braut Haaland almost gave the ‘Black and Yellows’ a dream start when he dragged his early, low strike inches wide.
Having weathered the early storm, Leipzig then played some of their most brutally-efficient football this season, as Konrad Laimer struck twice in quick succession to make a mockery of Dortmund’s recent successive home clean sheets. First, Laimer started and finished a rapid counter-attack by lifting the ball over Gregor Kobel, before the Austrian’s long-range shot took a huge deflection and bounced past a bewildered Kobel to double Leipzig’s lead.
Seemingly happy to preserve their lead, Leipzig continued to soak up pressure but they equally showed no willingness to hold back from putting Dortmund to the sword. To end another blistering counter-attack, Laimer teed up Christopher Nkunku on the edge of the area, and Leipzig’s top scorer netted his 16th Bundesliga goal of the season with a ruthless strike into the bottom corner. Eventually, Dortmund replied through Donyell Malen’s late close-range header before Leipzig responded immediately with a fourth, as Dani Olmo curled an audacious effort into the top corner from 20 yards out.
Ultimately, Marco Rose’s Dortmund had no answer for Leipzig’s superiority, and they have dropped points in three of their last five league matches to remain nine points off Bayern Munich at the Bundesliga summit. In comparison, Leipzig are on cloud nine, as Domenico Tedesco’s side have the best return of points in the Bundesliga for 2022, taking 26 from their last 11 matches.
