Head coach Xabi Alonso made three changes for the game against the DFB Cup holders compared with the 4-1 win in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final away to Union Saint-Gilloise: Odilon Kossounou replaced Edmond Tapsoba (muscular problems) in the back three, Kerem Demirbay started in place of Nadiem Amiri in midfield, and Amine Adli came in for teammate Florian Wirtz (gastroenteritis) in attack.
The opening minutes of the game were played in the Leverkusen half. The visitors had the majority possession, moved the ball well and again and again threaten the goal kept by Lukas Hradecky. The first chance of the game went to Josko Gvardiol with a long-range effort just two minutes after kick-off plus from Timo Werner on seven minutes. Moussa Diaby had the first decent effort for Bayer 04: After a free kick was cleared in midfield, the ball ended up with the Frenchman who tried a long-range effort but it went high and wide over the target (22'). Just six minutes later, Jeremie Frimpong won possession in his own half and set up a promising counter-attack with Mitchel Bakker, Demirbay plus Diaby racing forwards. Bakker saw his teammates to the right but Diaby was just offside (28').
Piero Hincapie had the best chance up to that point but his shot from long range that hit the crossbar (32'). The match was evenly balanced. Both teams again and again created good chances with their strengths in attack and defended well – up to the 40th minute.
Robert Andrich played a long ball to Diaby on the right, who raced to the byline before laying the ball back to teammate Adam Hlozek. The unmarked Czech hit the ball into the bottom left corner of the net to give the Werkself the lead at 1-0 (40'). That was the scoreline at half-time a few minutes later.
The team from Saxony started the second half well and were more lively but the team under head coach Marco Rose lacked the ability to finish up front. The RB Leipzig team were committed, pressed forward more and presented a threat with a double chance: A corner from Dominik Szoboszlai ended up with the ball at the feet of substitute Christopher Nkunku who put his effort just wide of the target (62'). Four minutes later, Mohamed Simakan put Werner through and he looked to finish from a tight angle. Hradecky made the save but the ball was not cleared and Nkunku just failed to make a connection. The hosts provide a prompt response.
Another lightning fast counter-attack from Frimpong ended up with Szoboszlai committing a professional foul. Referee Daniel Schlager pointed straight to the spot and the Leipzig player was dismissed after being shown a second yellow card. Substitute Nadiem Amiri stepped up to take the penalty. The Werkself number 11 slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to give the Black and Reds a 2-0 win.
The Werkself now have a normal week of training after a busy run of fixtures. The session on Monday 24 April from 11.00 CEST is on training pitches one and two and is open to fans. Leverkusen are away to Union Berlin on Saturday 29 April on Bundesliga matchday 30. The kick-off at the An der Alten Försterei stadium is at 15.30 CEST.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Hincapie (Fosu-Mensah 78') – Frimpong, Andrich, Demirbay, Bakker – Diaby (Amiri 68'), Hlozek (Azmoun 68'), Adli (Bellarabi 90')
RB Leipzig: Blaswich – Klostermann (Laimer 72'), Orban, Gvardiol – Henrichs, Haidara (Forsberg 81’), Kampl (Nkunku 46’), Halstenberg (Simakan 60’) – Szoboszlai, Olmo, Werner (Silva 81’)
Booked: Hincapie, Amiri, Andrich, Alonso (head coach) – Szoboszlai, Simakan, Haidara, Laimer
Sent off: Szoboszlai
Goals: 1-0 Hlozek (40’), 2-0 Amiri (pen. 86’)
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Rastatt)
Attendance: 29,085 at the BayArena
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