Match report

0-2 - HSV lose to RB Leipzig

On Friday night a crowd of around 50,000 inside the floodlit Volksparkstadion in Hamburg saw the home side go down 0-2 against RB Leipzig in the opening game of Bundesliga matchday 3.

After winning their first two games of the new season the Rothosen tasted defeat for the first time on Friday night (08.09), going down 0-2 at home to last season’s surprise package RB Leipzig. The goals came after the break and were scored by Naby Keita (67.) and Timo Werner (75.).

Filip Kostic had HSV’s best first half chance. — Filip Kostic had HSV’s best first half chance, but pushed the ball narrowly wide after advancing on RB keeper Gulasci alone.

Chances at both ends

HSV and RB Leipzig were two of the best pressing teams in Germany’s top flight last term, so the large crowd was expectant ahead of kick off. Those expectations were more than fulfilled. Both teams made a bright and entertaining start to the game with each man in each team prepared to run for each other which made build up play a bit tough. Both sides attacked as soon as the opposition had the ball and there were a handful of decent chances before the break.

Leipzig struch a post early on while the home side constantly improved against the Champions League participants, enjoying their best spell midway through the opening half. Had the home side managed to break the deadlock at that time it would have been well deserved. It was intense end to end stuff right up to the moment where match referee saw a foul by Ekdal on Leipzig’s Werner and awarded the visitors a penalty. The new video system was in play and the video referee corrected the referee and the penalty was turned down. Second later the half-time whistle sounded ended what was a dramatic opening 45 minutes.

HSV’s defence with skipper Kyriakos Papadopoulos at its heart fought hard to keep Leipzig at bay. — HSV’s defence with skipper Kyriakos Papadopoulos at its heart fought hard to keep Leipzig at bay, but still conceded twice as first Keita and then Werner netted.

Knockout counter attack

The visitors made the better start to the second half, reminding everyone of their sensational performances last season which saw them end the season behind champions Bayern Munich. RB pinned the Rothosen back in their own half, without it must be said being able to penetrate the well-marshalled home defence with former Leipzig man Papadopoulos pulling the strings. HSV remained dangerous whenever they had the ball and created a decent scoring chance through Waldschmidt after around an hour who had been brought on for Kostic who was forced off with an injury (60.).

Leipzib maintained the pressure and were rewarded on 67 minutes as Keita scored with a screamer from distance. That lead was deserved and the home side went within a whisker of equalising 15 minutes from the end as RB stopper Gulasci somehow managed to scrap and effort by substitute Schipplock from his line. It was a fine reflex save. Only 60 seconds later Leipzig put the game beyond Hamburg as their German international in-form striker Werner scored for them at the end of a well worked counter attack. The game ended in a deserved 2-0 victory for Leipzig but the home fans gave their team a deserved rousing send off for their undying effort. The Rothosen next play Niedersachesn-based rivals Hannover 96 at the Volksparkstadion next Friday night (15.09.17, 8.30 PM).

Match details:

HSV: Mathenia - Diekmeier, Papadopoulos, Jung, van Drongelen (71. Sakai) - Walace, Ekdal (73. Schipplock) - Hahn, Holtby, Kostic (38. Waldschmidt) - Wood

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi - Bernardo (59. Klostermann), Orban, Upamecano, Halstenberg - Keita, Demme - Sabitzer, Bruma (69. Kampl) - Augustin (77. Poulson), Ti. Werner

Goals: 0:1 Keita (67.), 0:2 Werner (75.)

Att: 50.231

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)

Booked: Walace (88.) / Keita (67.)