bundesliga

Xavi and Openda hit the mark as RB Leipzig get the better of Borussia Mönchengladbach

18.02.2024

Tragedy struck around Leipzig's game with Gladbach, which was won 2-0, with a home supporter passing away in the stadium after a Gladbach fan suffered a fatal car accident on the way to the game.

RB Leipzig 2-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 1-0 Xavi 14' (assist: Poulsen), 2-0 Openda 57' (assist: Schlager)

Showing just one win in their last six games and having picked up just four points in 2024 prior to this encounter, Leipzig were in need of three points. Soon after collecting the trophy for January's Goal of the Month, Xavi conjured a contender for February's prize. Dani Olmo had earlier been involved when freeing Yussuf Poulsen - preferred in attack to Benjamin Šeško - who hit a shot that was deflected narrowly over the bar. When the Spaniard battled to win possession shortly before the quarter-hour, he again found Poulsen, whose pass popped up for Xavi just inside the area. The 20-year-old controlled the ball on his right thigh before sending a volley with the same leg flying past the rooted Moritz Nicolas. Suddenly it was like old times again at the Red Bull Arena as Leipzig attacked with free-flowing confidence. Nicolas had earlier kept out Olmo's drive at the target and he beat away one more Xavi effort before then getting down to tip Openda's goal-bound effort to safety.

Gladbach's lowly position in the standings demanded a response from Gerardo Seoane's side. However, a Jordan header that drifted wide of the target aside, there was little for the Foals to get excited about as the second half progressed. Instead it was the hosts who doubled their advantage after Xaver Schlager's flighted pass from deep was pounced upon by Openda, the in-form Belgian adding a lobbed finish that passed a VAR check to bring his tally to 16 goals for the season. Left frustrated against Real Madrid in Leipzig's narrow UEFA Champions League loss in the week, Šeško was introduced to proceedings here, but the Slovenian was thwarted by Nicolas in the Gladbach goal. At the other end, the visitors went close to pulling one back when Jordan headed inches wide. The miss was further proof that this was an evening that belonged to Leipzig, with Die Roten Bullen claiming maximum spoils to move to within one point of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Watch: Xavi targets Bayern win after Gladbach triumph

Match stats

Five of Xavi's six Bundesliga goals have put Leipzig 1-0 ahead in games this season. No other player in the top flight can better that number for opening goals this term.
Openda scored for the fifth straight Bundesliga game, a feat that only Timo Werner (who managed seven in a row) previously pulled off at Leipzig in 2019/20.
The Leipzig forward is third in the scoring charts behind Serhou Guirassy (18) and Harry Kane (24).
Leipzig are yet to lose a Bundesliga game this season following a midweek Champions League fixture, winning six and drawing one by an aggregate score of 19-3.
The Foals have never won in Leipzig in eight attempts (D3, L5) and have now lost the last four.

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Watch: Loïs Openda mourns death of Leipzig fan following medical incident in the stands

Teams

Leipzig: Gulácsi - Henrichs, Klostermann (Simakan 23'), Orban (c), Raum (Castello 78') - Xavi, Haidara (Seiwald 67'), Schlager, Olmo (Baumgartner 78') - Openda, Poulsen (Šeško 67')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Bitshiabu, Elmas, Kampl
Out: -
Coach: Marco Rose

Gladbach: Nicolas - Elvedi, Itakura (Friedrich 69'), Wöber (Lainer 59') - Scally (Ngoumou 59'), Reitz, Weigl (c), Koné, Netz - Jordan, Hack (Honorat 69')
Unused subs: Olschowsky, Chiarodiz, Herrmann, Ranos, Fukuda
Out: Čvančara (ankle), Neuhaus (unconfirmed), Omlin (shoulder), Pléa (foot)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane