Werkself lose 1-0 to Leipzig in big match

In contrast to the goalless draw at VfL Bochum, head coach Gerardo Seoane made two changes to his starting line-up – both more or less defensive changes: Mitchel Bakker and Exequiel Palacios started in place of Paulinho and Kerem Demirbay. In addition, Seoane opted for a back five against the Red Bulls along with three holding midfield players. For the visitors from Saxony, on the back of a 2-0 win against Atalanta in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals three days ago, Domenico Tedesco made seven changes to his starting eleven.

more chances for the Werkself - no shots from Leipzig 

The opening minutes were marked by both teams carefully sussing out the opposition with neither side wanting to give away space to the opposing attacks. The first attempt on goal was provided by the Werkself player Robert Andrich but the 27-year-old's long-range effort flew high over the bar (13'). And the hosts also had the next chance ten minutes later: A free kick taken by Palacios was met by Edmond Tapsoba at the far post but his header was intercepted by Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol.

The Werkself were then camped in the opposition half at times. Jonathan Tah had a header from a corner (26') and Moussa Diaby had a shot from a tight angle (28') – but both were unable to beat the RB keeper Peter Gulasci. And the Hungary goalkeeper saved a shot from birthday boy Charles Aránguiz from 30 yards out (38'). Probably the best chance of the first half – again for Bayer 04 – came from a Patrik Schick header: but the striker headed just wide of the right upright (41'). The scoreline at half-time was 0-0 as that effort went unrewarded and Lukas Hradecky was untroubled at the other end for the first 45.

Nkunku energises RB - Hincapie picks up fifth yellow

With the RB top scorer Christopher Nkunku on the pitch, Leipzig had their first chance of the game after a few seconds – and it was a fair effort. The France international looked to win a penalty after contact with Tah in the area but Willi Orban hit the rebound against the left-hand post (46'). Two minutes later, Piero Hincapie pulled Nkunku's shirt just before the penalty area and the Leverkusen player was shown a fifth yellow card of the season that means he is ruled out for next week's game in Fürth.

The game took off and the Werkself had their first chance of the second half with a Schick header on 53 minutes. Tedesco then brought on another two key performers in Konrad Laimer and Dani Olmo with Seoane keeping faith with his starting line-up.

Leipzig take the lead – Seoane makes attacking substitutions

68 minutes had been played at the BayArena when Nkunku broke through on his own but his lob from the left went past the target. His teammate Dominik Szoboszlai was more successful when Nkunku set him up to hit an unstoppable shot under the bar giving Hradecky no chance and RB the lead (69').

Undaunted by going behind, Diaby had the next shot but Gulasci again made the save (77'). As in last week in Bochum, the Werkself failed to score and had to settle for a first defeat in four games.

from third to fourth - away in bavaria

The home defeat means Werkself drop to fourth in the Bundesliga table and the top team of the second half of the season from Saxony move up to third.

The Werkself are away to SpVgg Greuther Fürth next Saturday 23 April on Bundesliga matchday 31. The match against the bottom of the table side with 17 points kicks off at 15.30 CEST.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tapsoba, Tah (Demirbay 73'), Hincapie (Azmoun 87’), Bakker – Andrich (Alario 80’), Aránguiz, Palacios (Paulinho 73’) – Diaby, Schick

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi – Klostermann, Orban, Gvardiol – Mukiele, Adams (Henrichs 83’), Szoboszlai, Halstenberg (Angelino 73’) – Forsberg (Laimer 58’) – Silva (Nkunku 46’), Poulsen (Olmo 58’)

Goals: 0-1 Szoboszlai (69’)

Booked: Hincapie, Andrich – Gvardiol

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

Attendance: 26,119