RB Leipzig 0-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
The latest game week in the German top flight has been very interesting for the top five clubs. In a strange twist of fate, all of the Bundesliga 2019 results involving this season’s top five have lost or drawn. It is quite shocking to see both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich drop points this deep into the season.
Moreover, the Bundesliga tie between RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt was an eyebrow-raiser. There were multiple times wherein the Red Bulls looked like they were about to score. The hosts tried to play energetically as they launched attack after attack.
However, it was Frankfurt that left the Red Bull Stadium with huge smiles on their faces after getting away with a single point. While the result doesn’t get them any closer to the Champions League spots, the fact that they stopped Leipzig is more than a good sign for Adi Hutter’s Die Adler.
Highlights of the game
The entire Red Bull Stadium was hopeful that the Leipzig XI can close the gap between them, Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach. The pre-game favourites would have set up a tight battle for second if they managed to get the three points here.
Ralf Rangnick’s boys tried to get the lead early in the game in order to set the tone. Stefan Ilsanker almost got the job done in the seventh minute when he got to Marcel Halstenberg’s cross. Unfortunately, his header ended just off-target.
Frankfurt knew that they would be in for a tough ninety minutes, but knowing the fact doesn’t make things easier. They had to fend off another brilliant attacking talent in Timo Werner. The Liverpool target wasn’t able to control his 16th-minute header, though.
From that point on, the Leipzig faithful began to realise that this wouldn’t be a routine win for them. RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt odds were beginning to sway as the Red Bulls couldn’t find the back of the net. The traveling Frankfurt supporters were probably thrilled that they were holding their own.
However, all of their brilliant defending didn’t result in any goals. Luka Jovic, the breakout star who is currently Bundesliga’s top scorer, was held in check by the Leipzig defence. He wasn’t able to impact the game at all as he was tightly marked.
Of course, it didn’t mean that the Eagles were stagnant and happy to just defend. Filip Kostic tried to sneak in a go-ahead goal in the 25th minute when he fired a direct free-kick. The ball seemed destined to just get inside the right post, but Peter Gulasci managed to get a hold of the football.
The first half ended without much fanfare, and the second half was unfortunately much of the same thing. An array of Leipzig shirts tried their hand on beating Kevin Trapp without much success: Halstenberg had a crack on it, Werner wasted a 62nd-minute shot, Willi Orban and Marcel Seltzer also failed to make things happen from the corner.
The game reached the 80-minute mark, and it seems that the game is destined for a draw. Leipzig’s Yusuf Poulsen and Frankfurt’s MIjat Gacinovic tried to twist the script in their favour, but the game eventually ended in a bore draw.
It was a frustrating match for many Leipzig and SBOBET Bundesliga fans who backed the Red Bulls. Meanwhile, Frankfurt are up in the clouds as they managed to stop another top team after breaking even against Dortmund just last week.
Key statistics
There is surely much to be discussed in the Leipzig locker room. They scored a grand total of seven goals in the two matches they played prior to this. However, their wasteful efforts in front of goal (only one of their 14 shots was on target) ensured that they would finish the weekend with a bad taste in their mouths.
Meanwhile, Frankfurt will celebrate a moral victory. They managed to produce six shots on 46% possession, and two of those were on target. While they did have to commit ten fouls in the process, the four yellow cards Leipzig incurred is a testament to the efficiency of their 3-4-3.
This match was also the only game among the games played on Saturday to not score any goals.
What’s next?
While Frankfurt are delighted that they stopped two of the Bundesliga’s best, they desperately need some wins. They can start off with challenging Europa League fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk. In between those two games is another battle with a top-four opponent in Borussia Monchengladbach.
Meanwhile, Leipzig will be ironically happy that they don’t have to contend with European opponents and completely focus on the league. Their next three fixtures are winnable as they will be facing Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, and Nurnberg.
The question now is whether they can shake off the stress they experienced at the hands of the happy Eagles.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
