RB LEIPZIG SCORES THREE UNANSWERED GOALS AGAINST HOFFENHEIM AT RED BULL ARENA.
RB Leipzig picked up a convincing 3-0 win over Hoffenheim at the Red Bull Arena and, as a result, the hosts extended their undefeated streak in all competitions to 14 games (W10, D4). For Hoffenheim, this was their third Bundesliga defeat in a row.
Leipzig enjoyed a dominant start and didn’t waste time breaking the deadlock, as Christopher Nkunku found the back of the net just five minutes into the first half when he drilled a shot past Oliver Baumann following an assist from Hungary international Szoboszlai. The hosts didn’t slow down as the game progressed, leaving Hoffenheim looking stunned, and Leipzig doubled their lead through Marcel Halstenberg. The wing-back pushed forward and scored with a perfectly-placed effort that hit the post before going in. Nkunku and Szoboszlai were creating havoc for the visitors, and the duo combined again to extend the advantage even further. This time, the Frenchman turned provider, with Szoboszlai netting coolly from inside the box to all but end the game as a contest just before HT.
The second half followed the same structure as the first, as the hosts continued to monopolise possession and played confidently in Hoffenheim’s half, but they didn’t create many more dangerous scoring chances. The ‘Kraichgauer’ had difficulty creating decent opportunities themselves, though Andrej Kramarić tried, albeit in vain, to find an opening. Leipzig’s impressive display during the first 45 minutes explained the dull second period, though Domenico Tedesco will undoubtedly be delighted with one of the most dominant outings from his side since he took over from Jesse Marsch in December.
With the win, Leipzig strengthened their grip on fourth place and now hold a three-point lead in the final UEFA Champions League berth over Freiburg. Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are still in the European spots, but only thanks to their superior goal difference over Union Berlin and FC Köln.
