Benjamin Šeško double as DFB Cup holders RB Leipzig squeeze into second round
DFB Cup holders RB Leipzig booked their place in the second round of the competition after defeating Bundesliga 2 side Wehen Wiesbaden 3-2 on Wednesday.
It did not take long for Leipzig, who have won the trophy in each of the last two seasons, to establish their authority on the game as Emil Forsberg opened the scoring in the seventh minute, finishing on the rebound after Yussuf Poulsen's header was saved. Hyun-Ju Lee drew a fine save from the returning Péter Gulácsi with a curling effort shortly afterwards, before Benjamin Šeško doubled Leipzig's lead following a mistake from Wiesbaden defender Marcus Mathisen. Perhaps with one eye on Saturday's Bundesliga fixture against Bayern Munich, Leipzig eased off - which allowed the hosts to grow in confidence. They were rewarded just before half-time when Ivan Prtajin held off the challenge of Nicolas Seiwald to collect a long ball forward and lob it over Gulácsi to reduce the deficit.
That goal visibly lifted the home side's spirits and they went on the front foot at the start of the second half, with Gulácsi needing to make a fine save at his near post to prevent Prtajin from equalising. Leipzig head coach Marco Rose reacted by making a triple substitution, bringing on Xaver Schlager, Loïs Openda and Xavi Simons in a bid to reassert Leipzig's superiority. The changes soon paid off, with the latter duo combining on the break to pull Wiesbaden's defence apart and tee up Forsberg to shoot. His effort was blocked, but Šeško was in the right place to lash in the follow up and restore his side's two-goal advantage. Wiesbaden set up a grandstand finale, however, by pulling another goal back just three minutes later when Prtajin finished from close range following a corner. Šeško hit the bar after being teed up by Xavi in the closing stages and Julius Kade had a fierce drive from 20 yards well saved as both teams continued to push forward, but there were no more goals in a pulsating encounter as Leipzig crept into the next round.
Match stats
Šeško has five goals in six appearances in all competitions this season.
Rose's team have won 17 of their last 19 competitive games. Bayer Leverkusen are the only team to have beaten them in that time.
Leipzig are the seventh different team to win back-to-back DFB Cups. They have not lost in the competition in 13 matches since defeat in the 2020/21 final.
Die Roten Bullen are bidding to become the first team in history to win three straight DFB Cups.
Since being promoted to the Bundesliga in 2016, Leipzig have reached the final in four out of their seven DFB Cup campaigns, only losing to non-Bundesliga opposition once (Dynamo Dresden, 2016/17).
Wiesbaden were competing in the DFB Cup for the 15th time. They've navigated the first round on six occasions, going as far as the quarter-finals in 2008/09 (3-0 loss to Hamburg).
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A promising Leipzig attack breaks down on the edge of the Wehen area, with Šeško playing his pass just behind the run of Carvalho.
61'
Gulacsi to the rescue!
Kampl concedes possession in the Leipzig penalty area. Prtajin sets himself and fires goalwards, with only Gulacsi's outstretched left leg preventing the equaliser.
59'
Carvalho!
The Leipzig man receives a pass 20 yards from goal, turns his marker and fires straight at Stritzel. Wehen will be happy to restrict the holders to efforts like that.
58'
Leipzig probing
Lots of possession for the Bundesliga club, but Wehen have men behind the ball and are holding their shape.
53'
On the volley!
Forsberg weaves his magic to earn a corner. It's swung in towards Klostermann, who doesn't catch the ball cleanly on the volley and a promising chance is gone.
48'
Over!
Wehen sub Nick Bätzner sees his name up in lights, but sends his free-kick attempt miles off target. Leipzig are unchanged, by the way.
Leipzig flew out of the blocks and took a deserved 2-0 lead, but have allowed Wehen back into the contest. The next goal, as they say, will be crucial.
Castello with a superb diagonal pass for Carvalho. He tries to direct it towards the far corner, but Stritzel is out in a flash to make a brilliant block.
41'
Wehen pull once back!
Well, well. Prtajin gets the wrong side of Seiwald, who's a midfielder by trade, before lifting a fine finish over the on-rushing Gulacsi. The home fans go barmy!
Šeško in the six-yard box for Leipzig. He tries to find a teammate, but no one gambles.
35'
Almost
Henrichs spots the run of Carvalho into the box, but overcooks his attempted pass. Less intensity about Leipzig's attacks suddenly...
31'
Lee outlet
Wiesbaden break up the right after Lenz misplaces a pass. It's switched over to Lee, who tries to cut back inside before being crowded ot near the by-line.
26'
Carvalh-no!
The Portugal international has a go from outside the area, but can't keep his shot down. His wait for a first Leipzig goal goes on...
23'
Brave approach
Wehen are not hanging about when they win back possession. They've clearly been drilled to attack whenever the opportunity presents itself. You have to admire it!
Leipzig toy with the back-tracking Wiesbaden players, some cute one-touch football tying them in knots. Mathisen gets in the way of Carvalho's chipped pass into the box, but inadvertently heads the ball across his goal and straight to Šeško, who gobbles up the chance from close range. That's four goals in seven Leipzig appearances for the young Slovenian!
Šeško runs in on the Wehen goal, but places his shot too close to Stritzel, who blocks Poulsen on the rebound. Carvalho then scoops over, with the red shirts swarming in an attempt to put off the Liverpool loanee.
14'
Lee!
Big chance for Wehen as Lee scoots into the box and takes aim, but Gulacsi dives to his left to beat it clear and just out of Fechner's reach at the far post. Great play by the Bayern II loanee!
12'
Worth a go!
Defender Mockenhaupt pops up on the edge of the Leipzig area, driving over following a promising Wehen attack. The home supporters liked that!
7'
Clinical!
Leipzig bring Wiesbaden back down to Earth, after that encouraging start. Poulsen's downward header is too hot to handle for Stritzel, and Forsberg thunders the loose ball into the roof of the net.
Froese gets in behind Lenz, roared on by the home fans. It's the right idea as he tries to feed Prtajin, who just can't get a touch.
3'
Long-ball game
Ivan Prtajin tries to get on the end of a long ball, but Castello has it covered and Gulacsi can gather. Every touch will mean the world to the returning Leipzig keeper. So crucial to rebuild the confidence in his body and game.
1'
Here we go!
Leipzig get their title defence under way. Can they join the likes of Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen in the second round?
Kick-off!
Long-time servant
Poulsen was in the Leipzig team the last time they met Wiesbaden in the 2013/14 3. Liga (Germany's third tier). He got the assist in a 1-0 home win, having experienced a 2-1 loss on the road.
Cup specialists
Leipzig are bidding to become the first team in history to win three successive DFB Cups. Die Roten Bullen haven't lost in the competition since going down 4-1 to Thomas Tuchel's Dortmund in the 2020/21 final. They were also runners-up in 2018/19, losing out to Bayern.
More on those teams
Gulácsi returns in the Leipzig goal almost a year after suffering an ACL rupture in a Champions League game against Celtic. Defenders Lukas Klostermann and Christopher Lenz are handed starts, with midfielders Nicolas Seiwald and Emil Forsberg also rotated in. Yussuf Poulsen returns alongside Benjamin Šeško in attack. Xavi is among the substitutes, but there's no Timo Werner due to back troubles. As for hosts Wehen, Markus Kauczinski makes five changes to the team beaten by Elversberg at the weekend.
It will be fascinating to see the side Marco Rose picks tonight given Leipzig's strong form, involvement at the top end of the Bundesliga and in the Champions League. Benjamin Šeško and Fábio Carvalho made their first starts in a 1-0 win at Gladbach on Saturday, but Timo Werner has a claim to start tonight after scoring the winner off the bench, as fit-again goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi may also have.
A tale of two formbooks
Leipzig boast four wins in succession in the Bundesliga (and one in the UEFA Champions League in the midst of that run), whereas Wiesbaden are without a win in four on their return to Bundesliga 2.
Who are Wehen Wiesbaden?
The club from a spa town have returned to Bundesliga 2 this season after three years away from the second flight and have a 36-year-old English sporting director. You can read up on them in a bundesliga.com feature right here!
Why is tonight a cup night?
The vast majority of the DFB Cup first round fixtures were played across the weekend of 12/13 August. However, as Bayern and RB Leipzig contested the DFL Supercup that Saturday, their cup games had to be moved. As a result, Bayern had a cup tie yesterday (winning 4-0 at Preußen Münster) with Leipzig away at Wiesbaden tonight.
Welcome!
Thanks for joining us as we see if DFB Cup holders RB Leipzig can make it past Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2023/24 competition.
