Benjamin Šeško penalty sends RB Leipzig into DFB Cup semi-finals at Wolfsburg's expense

Benjamin Šeško's second-half penalty fired RB Leipzig past Wolfsburg and into the 2024/25 DFB Cup semi-finals.

RB Leipzig 1-0 Wolfsburg
Goals: 1-0 Šeško (pen. 68')

Leipzig and Wolfsburg didn't disappoint in the first half of an absorbing all-Bundesliga clash, with Loïs Openda setting the tone with an early close-range warning shot that sailed just wide of the upright. Wolfsburg were quick to return fire as Tiago Tomás blazed off target and Joakim Mæhle went within a whisker of turninig in a telling ball into the box. Stand-in Leipzig goalkeeeper Maarten Vandevoordt was made to work by Mohamed Amoura and Andreas Skov Olsen, before pulling off the save of the half to prevent Patrick Wimmer's snap-shot from sneaking in at his near post.

Amoura went closer still within three minutes of the restart, the Algerian forward's looping header cannoning back off the top of the crossbar. Skov Olsen was the next to try his luck for Wolfsburg, but his rising strike was pushed to safety by the full-stretch Vandevoordt. Leipzig responded in kind as Šeško missed with a gilt-edged header. The Slovenian made amends moments later, though, scoring from the spot after Kilian Fischer had been penalised for handball. There were big chances at both ends in a thrilling finale as Leipzig held on to join holders Bayer Leverkusen, Bundesliga rivals VfB Stuttgart and 3. Liga's Arminia Bielefeld in the last four.

Match stats

• Leipzig won the DFB Cup in 2021/22 and 2022/23, before going out to Wolfsburg in the 2023/24 second round. They are on course to reach their fifth final in seven seasons.
• Only Leverkusen's Patrik Schick has more goals this season's DFB Cup (four) than Šeško (three). Openda has also scored three times.
• Šeško now has 17 competitive goals so far this term - just one less than in his first full season in Leipzig colours.
• Marco Rose's team are the 2024/25 DFB Cup's 12-goal top scorers.
• Wolfsburg conceded their first DFB Cup goal of the campaign.
• The Wolves have lost eight of their last nine cup ties away at fellow Bundesliga clubs, including three against Leipzig.

Teams

Leipzig: Vandevoordt - Geertruida (Klostermann 90'), Orbán (c), Bitshiabu (Castello Jr. 74') - Baku, Kampl (Haidara 74'), Vermeeren (Seiwald 90'), Raum - Xavi - Openda, Šeško
Unused subs: Gulácsi, Baumgartner, Nedeljković, Gomis, Gebel
Out: Henrichs (Achilles), Nusa (knee), Ouédraogo (hamstring), Poulsen (muscular), Schlager (knee)
Coach: Marco Rose

Wolfsburg: Müller - Fischer (Kamiński 87'), Vavro, Koulierakis, Mæhle - Tomás (Behrens 87'), Svanberg (c), Dardai (Gerhardt 81'), Wimmer (Vranckx 81'), Skov Olsen (Wind 71') - Amoura
Unused subs: Pervan, Roerslev, Odogu, Bröger
Out: Arnold (knee), Bialek (knee), Grabara (thigh), Majer (ankle), Nmecha (adductor), Paredes (foot), Rogério (knee)
Coach: Ralph Hasenhüttl

As it happened!

1 - 0

(0 - 0)

Leipzig

FINAL

Wolfsburg

DFB Pokal
Quarter-final Quarter-final Red Bull Arena

Full-time: Leipzig 1-0 Wolfsburg

It is Leipzig that advance to the semi-final after a hard-fought contest. Amoura struck the bar with a header for Wolfsburg early in the second half but it was Šeško in the end who proved the difference maker. He first won the penalty when his cross hit the hand of Fischer before stepping up to slot it home confidently. Leipzig will now face one of Leverkusen, Bielefeld or Stuttgart in the semi-final.

© IMAGO/Sven Sonntag

Full-time

90'

+ 6

Openda forces Müller into diving save

Everybody is forward now for Wolfsburg and that gives Openda room to counter. He is one-on-one with Koulierakis and is able to work some space to force a good save out of Müller.

90'

+ 3

Yellow card

Mattias Svanberg

90'

+ 3

Yellow card

Loïs Openda

90'

+ 3

Substitution

Christoph Baumgartner

Xavi Simons

90'

+ 1

Five minutes added on

Can Wolfsburg find a way through in the final few minutes?

90'

Substitution

Nicolas Seiwald

Arthur Vermeeren

90'

Substitution

Lukas Klostermann

Lutsharel Geertruida

87'

End-to-end

At one end Šeško has a huge chance to make it 2-0 but he can only hit the goalkeeper. Wolfsburg then go straight up the other end where Vandevoort has to be alive to narrow the angle for Behrens.

87'

Substitution

Jakub Kamiński

Kilian Fischer

87'

Substitution

Kevin Behrens

Tiago Tomás

86'

Yellow card

Amadou Haidara

84'

Haidara almost produces the spectacular

The ball comes out to Amadou Haidara on the edge of the box who unleashes an absolute piledriver of a volley that Müller does well to parry.

83'

Xavi fires narrowly wide

Xavi with space to run into but he loses his footing. It seems the chance is gone but he recovers well before firing a left-footed shot that is deflected narrowly wide.

82'

Yellow card

Castello Lukeba

80'

Substitution

Yannick Gerhardt

Bence Dardai

80'

Substitution

Aster Vranckx

Patrick Wimmer

79'

Almost 2-0

Raum wins the ball back in a dangerous position before whipping in a cross. Orbán can't quite get on the end of it but his pressure on the defender wins his side a corner.

74'

Substitution

Amadou Haidara

Kevin Kampl

74'

Substitution

Castello Lukeba

El Chadaille Bitshiabu

73'

Wolfsburg looking for an answer

Amoura finds Dardai who hits one but it swerves away from the target.

71'

Substitution

Jonas Wind

Andreas Skov Olsen

70'

Yellow card

Joakim Mæhle

1-0 Leipzig

Šeško steps up confidently and fires the ball into the bottom right corner. 1-0 to the hosts!

© Maja Hitij

68'

Benjamin Šeško

GOAL!

1:0

66'

Penalty to the hosts!

Šeško tries to whip in a cross from inside the area but it strikes the hand of Kilian Fischer and the ref points to the spot.

65'

Penalty!

64'

Best chance of the match!

Raum whips in a fantastic delivery from a wide free-kick and it is Šeško who gets on the end of it but he can only glance his header wide from close range.

Still we await a breakthrough

Both sides have attacking intent but still no end product so far.

© IMAGO/dts Nachrichtenagentur

58'

Openda fires wide

Vandevoort claims a cross before launching a kick long to Šeško. He then finds Openda with a cross but the Belgian can only fire his initial effort against the covering defender before putting his second attempt wide.

55'

Tomás into row Z

Tomás becomes the latest to sting the hands of the fans behind the goal.

49'

Wolfsburg almost break through again

This time Vandevoort does make a save as he dives across to tip Skov Olsen's effort away for a corner.

48'

Off the bar!

Wolfsburg win a corner early on. The ball is floated to the back post where Amoura meets it but the Algerian is denied by the crossbar.

46'

We're back underway

Leipzig kick off the second half.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Leipzig 0-0 Wolfsburg

After a frantic first few minutes, this game has somewhat petered out with chances proving rare. Neither goalkeeper has been forced into anything particularly spectacular as of yet and so a place in the semis remains all to play for.

© IMAGO/Franziska Gora

Half-time

45'

+ 3

Simple for Müller

Leipzig work the ball well to give Xavi Simons some space but his cross is claimed comfortably by Müller to finish the half.

45'

+ 3

One last chance?

Leipzig have a corner to finish the half.

45'

Wimmer almost squeezes the ball home

Wimmer gets on the end of a good passing move before shooting from an ambitious angle. Vandevoort is alert though and gets down well to palm it away for a corner.

43'

Raum into the stands

This time it is David Raum that tests the gloves of the fans in the upper echelons behind the goal. Another wayward effort.

39'

Both sides cancelling each other out

This game has been more of a battle than a spectacle of free-flowing stylish football so far but it still makes for an entertaining match.

Will either side make the breakthrough before half-time?

Clear chances have been few and far between as we approach half-time.

© IMAGO/Michael Taeger

31'

Another effort from range

This time Skov Olsen works himself some space on the edge of the area but again it is simple for the Leipzig keeper.

30'

Amoura forces a save

Tomás moves forward at pace for the away side before feeding Amoura who then cuts inside and strikes one but it is simple for Vandevoordt.

29'

Stop-start

The game has become a bit stop-start in the last few minutes. Fischer has suffered a couple of knocks that have required treatment and lots of fouls have caused stoppages in play.

26'

Lots of energy but a lot of loose passes

Both teams are certainly up for this. Lots of ground is being covered but the game is lacking a touch of real quality so far.

Certainly a good tempo to this game so far

Lots of energy out on that pitch in the early stages but no breakthrough yet.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Jan Kaefer

17'

Openda goes for the spectacular!

The Belgian has certainly been full of life in the early stages. This time he tries an acrobatic bicycle kick but his effort is way off target.

12'

Šeško into the stands

Just like his teammate moments before, Šeško strikes one from range but the ball ends up high in the stands.

11'

Wild from Openda

The Belgian picks up the ball in space before running at the Wolfsburg defence at pace. He then tries an ambitious strike that flies high over the goal.

7'

Another chance for Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg again come forward with pace. This time it is Mæhle who is inches away from turning the ball home on the slide. The flag was up anyway though so it wouldn't have counted.

6'

Tomás with a chance!

Wolfsburg then go straight up the other end and nearly make it 1-0. Wimmer finds Tomás who fires narrowly over the bar from a tight angle.

5'

Leipzig come close!

First chance of the game for the hosts as Openda fires narrowly wide from close range!

1'

We're underway!

The last of our quarter-final clashes is underway.

Kick-off!

Kick-off just moments away!

Both sides are set and ready for their quarter-final clash! Which team will be joining Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Bielefeld in the semi-finals?

© Maja Hitij

Leipzig is bouncing!

The Leipzig fans certainly seem in good spirits ahead of kick-off.

Leipzig bouncing ahead of kick-off

The Leipzig fans seem in good voice ahead of their quarter-final clash.

More on those teams

As expected, Vandevoordt comes into the starting XI as Leipzig's chosen cup goalkeeper with both sides making changes to the teams from the weekend. Wind drops to the bench for Wolfsburg who make three changes from their draw with Bochum. Leipzig too make changes but Ridle Baku remains in the starting XI to face his former club.

© Maja Hitij

Leipzig starting XI

Vandevoordt - Geertruida, Orbán (c), Bitshiabu - Baku, Kampl, Vermeeren, Raum - Xavi - Openda, Šeško

Leipzig subs

Gulácsi, Haidara, Seiwald, Baumgartner, Klostermann, Nedeljkovic, Castello Jr., Gomis, Gebel

Wolfsburg starting XI

Müller - Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Mæhle - Tomás, Svanberg (c), Dardai, Wimmer, Skov Olsen - Amoura

Wolfsburg subs

Pervan, Roerslev, Gerhardt, Odogu, Vranckx, Wind, Kamiński, Behrens, Bröger

Wolfsburg counting on quarters pedigree

Wolfsburg have made the last eight of the DFB Cup on ten previous occasions and have progressed to the semi-finals seven times. They travelled to Leipzig at this stage of the competition in 2020/21 but lost 2-0 on that occasion.

Vandevoordt to start

Marco Rose confirmed ahead of the match that Maarten Vandevoordt (pictured) will start - as Leipzig's preferred cup goalkeeper. First-choice Bundesliga shotstopper Gulácsi is therefore in line to begin on the bench. Christoph Baumgartner is a doubt for the hosts due to the fever that forced him off against Heidenheim on Sunday.

© IMAGO/Michael Taeger

Baku looking ahead

Leipzig's winter signing from Wolfsburg, Ridle Baku (pictured), said that the clash "is a really important game. It will decide the direction of our season, so we want to get the win for our fans and the city. That's more important than me."

© DFL/GettyImages/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Clash of previous winners

Both sides have won the DFB Cup in the recent past, with Leipzig back-to-back winners in 2021/2022 and 2002/2023 (pictured), while Wolfsburg lifted the trophy in 2014/2015. The cup provides the most realistic route to honours for the pair this season too...

© IMAGO/Daniel Lakomski/Jan Huebner

Marco Rose's view on Wolfsburg

"We have to be wary of the pace Wolfsburg possess from counter-attacks - from [Mohamed] Amoura, Tiago Tomás and [Jonas] Wind in particular. VfL have developed nicely as a team under Ralph Hasenhüttl and are a really solid side now. It's tough to create chances and to score goals against them. You always have to be on your toes at the back because of the quality they have in attack. We've come up with a way of how we want to defend against them."

© Marco Luzzani

Ralph Hasenhüttl's view on Leipzig

"We have huge respect for these opponents because they simply have a lot of very good players in their ranks and that's why we have to go there, put our hearts into it and perform with this conviction to take any chance we get. And then we'll certainly have a chance to perhaps create an upset. You have to try to be well prepared and go into a game like this with the right mindset, and then of course you have a chance of pulling something like this off."

© IMAGO/Darius Simka

2:03

Watch: RB Leipzig 1-5 Wolfsburg - highlights

Re-live all six goals from these two sides' previous encounter on Bundesliga Matchday 12.

Look who's Bak(u)

In that eye-catching league win in November, Amoura's first of the afternoon was assisted by Ridle Baku, who will be wearing the white and red of Leipzig this time around having joined Marco Rose's men in the winter transfer window. He made 166 appearances in all competitions across four years at Wolfsburg.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Jan Kaefer

3:26

Watch: The best of Mohamed Amoura

In that 5-1 Wolfsburg win back in November, Mohamed Amoura bagged a brace in what was a stellar performance. He has netted nine league goals so far in his first season in the Bundesliga, but is yet to hit the back of the net in the DFB Cup.

Previous meetings

Of their last five meetings, Wolfsburg have won three and lost two, meaning they just have the edge over Die Roten Bullen going into their cup clash. Their most recent meeting was their Bundesliga clash in the first half of this season, when Wolfsburg won 5-1 in the Red Bull Arena.

Cup runs

Wolfsburg began their DFB Cup journey with a narrow victory over fifth-tier TuS Koblenz (1-0), before beating consecutive Bundesliga opponents in Borussia Dortmund (1-0 aet) and Hoffenheim (3-0). Leipzig began their campaign with a 4-1 win over Rot-Weiss Essen, before also beating Bundesliga rivals St. Pauli (4-2) and Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0).

2:03

Watch: RB Leipzig 2-2 Heidenheim - highlights

Leipzig drew for the second week running, having drawn 0-0 with Augsburg on Matchday 22. They lie in 6th, level on points with Mainz who are above them, and two points clear of 7th placed Stuttgart.

2:03

Watch: Wolfsburg 1-1 Bochum

Wolfsburg were held by relegation-threatened Bochum on Matchday 23, but they're still well in the race for European football.

Welcome

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Wednesday's DFB Cup quarter-final clash between RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg at the Red Bull Arena as they look to join Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart in the final four.

About the clubs

VfL Wolfsburg

Volkswagen Arena

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena