bundesliga

Last-gasp Angelino goal saves RB Leipzig at home to Freiburg

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Angelino scored a 90th-minute equaliser for RB Leipzig to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw at home to top-four rivals Freiburg on Saturday.

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Leipzig 1-1 Freiburg
Goals: 0-1 Demirovic (38'), 1-1 Angelino 90' (assist: Szoboszlai)

Leipzig came into the game having won five of their previous six outings in all competitions, so understandably began with a spring in their step. Yet while they dominated the ball throughout the first 45 minutes, enjoying 65 percent of possession, Domenico Tedesco’s men struggled to break down a disciplined Freiburg side and visiting goalkeeper Mark Flekken did not need to make a save until added time at the end of the first half, and even then it was only a simple stop from a Willi Orban header that lacked power and precision. Before then, Christopher Nkunku’s attempted lob sailed over the bar in what was the first clear opening of the game, but it was Freiburg who took a lead into the break thanks to Ermedin Demirovic’s clever dink over Peter Gulacsi after an attempted Kevin Kampl clearance broke kindly for him.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Leipzig making good headway until the edge of the Freiburg penalty area, at which point they seemed to run out of ideas. Josko Gvardiol almost picked out Emil Forsberg with a diagonal pass from the back, but the Swede was unable to control it inside the box after sneaking behind the visitors’ five-man backline. Tedesco brought on Dani Olmo and Andre Silva on the hour mark as the home side sought to make their dominance count, and the duo combined to fashion Leipzig’s best opening of the half when the Spaniard's cross from the right picked out the Portuguese striker, but he could only head straight at Flekken from six yards. It looked like Freiburg might hold on for a maiden win at the Red Bull Arena, but the home side's pressure took its toll in the final minute when Angelino arrowed a superb low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to salvage a point for his side.

Match stats

  • Demirovic scored his second goal of the season. Both have come away from home against top sides (the other was in Dortmund on Matchday 19).
  • This was the third time in six visits that Freiburg have held a half-time lead in Leipzig, but they are still yet to win at the Red Bull Arena.
  • Angelino's goal was his second in the Bundesliga this term, and second in successive home games.
  • Kiliann Sildillia made his first Bundesliga appearance since November last year. He made his top-flight debut in the reverse fixture against Leipzig in October.
  • Freiburg extended their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to four games.
  • Leipzig had 14 shots to Freiburg's four, and ended with 67 per cent possession.

Watch: Gulacsi: "Top-four race will go down to the wire"

Line-ups

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Klostermann, Orban, Gvardiol - Mukiele (Henrichs 58'), Haidara, Kampl (Olmo 58'), Angelino - Forsberg (Szoboszlai 79') - Poulsen (Silva 59'), Nkunku
Unused subs: Martinez, Simakan, Adams, Halstenberg, Laimer
Out: -
Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Freiburg: Flekken - Gulde (K. Schlotterbeck 89'), Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck (Sildillia 65') - Kübler, Eggestein, Haberer, Günter (c) - Höler (Petersen 79'), Demirovic (Sallai 79'), Grifo (Jeong 65')
Unused subs: Uphoff, Siquet, Schade, Wagner
Out: Höfler (suspended), Keitel (broken toe)
Coach: Christian Streich