Dani Olmo keeps RB Leipzig in the hunt with win at VfB Stuttgart
Dani Olmo scored the only goal of the game as RB Leizpig kept up the pressure at the top of the standings with a 1-0 win away to VfB Stuttgart.
VfB Stuttgart 0-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Olmo (67')
With Bayer Leverkusen dropping points earlier in the day, this game was Leipzig’s chance to leapfrog them in the table and they began as if determined to do so. Angelino fired off an early warning, hitting a sweetly struck volley from the edge of the area in the second minute that Stuttgart goalkeeper Gregor Kobel did well to block. Marcel Sabitzer also tested the home custodian moments later with a trademark drive from distance that was saved, and Leipzig could have been forgiven for feeling it wasn’t going to be their day when Kobel kept out Emil Forsberg’s penalty with his foot after Pascal Stenzel had tripped the Swedish attacker. The visitors tried to get forward in their customary swashbuckling style, but didn’t truly threaten until just before the interval when Sasa Kalajdzic flicked narrowly wide of the far post following Silas Wamangituka’s surging run down the right.
The match continued in a similar pattern in the second half and Amadou Haidara should have broken the deadlock within moments of the restart after being released by Kevin Kampl’s superb through-ball, but he dragged his effort wide of the far post. Forsberg also went one-on-one with Kobel after being played in by Sabitzer, but again the Stuttgart goalkeeper came out on top. Julian Nagelsmann’s side eventually got the goal their dominance deserved midway through the half when Angelino’s cross from the left looped up off Stenzel and fell kindly for Olmo at the back post, where the Spaniard volleyed in from close range. Haidara went close to putting daylight between the teams in the closing stages but Kobel parried his rasping drive from the edge of the box, before the Malian midfielder blazed over on the rebound. As in the first half, Stuttgart had a big chance as the clock ticked down, but Peter Gulacsi produced a stunning save to deny Waldemar Anton from close range and help Die Roten Bullen to their ninth league win of the season.
Match stats
- This was Leipzig's 150th Bundesliga game. They have the best record in league history upon reaching that milestone: 81 wins, 40 draws and 29 defeats.
- Kobel has now faced six penalties in the Bundesliga, saving two.
- Peter Gulacsi made his 200th competitive appearance in goal for Leipzig.
- Olmo has scored four of his five Bundesliga goals away from home.
- Leipzig have never lost to a promoted Bundesliga team (W15, D3).
- Stuttgart are winless in their first seven home matches of a top-flight season for the first time (D4, L3).
Watch: Olmo: "Angelino knows I'm always at the back post"
Line-ups
Stuttgart: Kobel - Stenzel (Mavropanos 75'), Anton, Kempf (Klimowicz 83') - Silas, Endo, Mangala, Castro (c) (Förster 75'), Sosa – Gonzalez, Kalajdzic (Coulibaly 58')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Karazor, Churlinov, Klement, Massimo
Out: Al Ghaddioui (pelvis), Didavi (flu), Thommy (elbow)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo
Leipzig: Gulacsi - Orban, Upamecano, Halstenberg - Adams (Klostermann 81'), Haidara, Kampl (Poulsen 66'), Angelino - Sabitzer (c), Forsberg (Sörloth 73'), Olmo
Unused subs: Martinez, Hwang, Samardzic, Borkowski, Martel, Wosz
Out: Henrichs (knee), Kluivert (calf), Konate (ankle), Laimer (knee), Mukiele (knock), Nkunku (ankle), Szoboszlai (ineligible)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Watch: Matarazzo: "We showed a lot of passion"
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