The Saxons suffered their next defeat in the premier class at Celtic and remained pointless. Of all things, an old acquaintance becomes Glasgow’s hero. Real Madrid, on the other hand, is failing again – and clearly.
RB Leipzig’s chances of progressing in the Champions League are getting worse and worse. At Celtic Glasgow, the Saxons suffered their fourth defeat in their fourth game, 1:3 (1:2), and the second-place team in the Bundesliga remains without a point in the premier class. After Christoph Baumgartner took the lead (23rd minute), former Leipzig youth player Nicolas Kühn (35th/45th+1) turned the game around. Reo Hatate (72nd) increased for the Scots.
RB had big problems with the high pressing of the Glasgow attackers in the opening quarter of an hour. Only afterwards did the Saxons gain more confidence in their game. Loïs Openda forced Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to do a brilliant deed for the first time (22′). After a corner from Kevin Kampl, the lead followed: Cameron Carter-Vickers involuntarily extended the ball to the second post, where Baumgartner headed in the opposite direction of Schmeichel. Antonio Nusa could have increased the score from close range, but he heaved the ball past the goal on the left (31′).
Leipzig suddenly had the game under control, but then Kühn went solo. Bitshiabu ran along, but couldn’t prevent the shot into the goal. Rock legend and Glasgow fan Rod Stewart cheered in the stands. Even before the change, Kühn, who was trained in the RB youth team from 2015 to 2018, finally turned the game around. After a cross from Hatate, which Taylor passed on, the 24-year-old pushed the ball into the goal from five meters.
After the restart, “The Bhoys” dominated the game. Leipzig seemed frustrated and lacked ideas. Rose had expressly warned about this. “It’s a pressure situation that we have to face. We have to implement the things we discussed with the ball,” the coach said. RB at least gave a sign of life with a 20-meter shot from Benjamin Sesko, but Schmeichel reacted well on his 38th birthday (64th). Celtic’s best defense in the Bundesliga was sometimes dizzy until the final phase. When Peter Gulacsi let the ball bounce off Alistair Johnston, Hatate made it 3-1. The game was decided.
Defending champion Real Madrid made another mistake in the Champions League. Against AC Milan, the record winners suffered their second defeat in the league phase with a 1:3 (1:2) and, after the crushing 0:4 against FC Barcelona in the Liga Clásico, their second competitive defeat in a row. After four games and a surprising defeat against OSC Lille (0-1), Real are only in midfield in the table – and had to put up with whistles at home.
German central defender Malick Thiaw (12th), Alvaro Morata (39th) and Tijjani Reijnders (73rd) scored for Milan. Madrid, with German international Antonio Rüdiger in the starting line-up, equalized with a penalty from Vinicius Junior (23′).
Surprise team Lille also annoyed Italy’s record champions Juventus Turin with a 1-1 (1-0) draw. After victories over Real and Atlético Madrid (2:1), LOSC narrowly missed out on winning against their third top-class opponent in a row, but are among the top teams in the table.
Real shock Jonathan David (27th) scored his fourth goal of the season, Dusan Vlahovic (60th) scored from the penalty spot for Juve. Meanwhile, AS Monaco remained undefeated. Thanks to national player Thilo Kehrer, the Monegasques won 1-0 (0-0) against FC Bologna. The captain scored the goal of the day (87th).
Interview between Time.news Editor and Football Expert, Dr. Rebecca Miles
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Miles! Thank you for joining us today. Let’s dive right into the latest Champions League action. RB Leipzig faced another setback this week against Celtic Glasgow. They’re now at the bottom of their group with four defeats. What do you think went wrong for them in that match?
Dr. Rebecca Miles: Thank you for having me! It was indeed a disappointing night for Leipzig. They struggled significantly with Celtic’s high pressing. In the first 15 minutes, they seemed overwhelmed and unable to cope with the intensity. Despite taking an early lead, their inability to maintain composure under pressure proved costly.
Time.news Editor: That early goal by Christoph Baumgartner certainly raised hopes for the Saxons. How crucial was that moment before Celtic turned the tide?
Dr. Rebecca Miles: It was a pivotal moment. Baumgartner’s header gave Leipzig the advantage, but they failed to capitalize on it. Celtic’s response was impressive. Nicolas Kühn, a former Leipzig youth player, was instrumental in shifting the momentum. His solo effort was a turning point in the match, showing how quickly fortunes can change in football.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of Kühn, he really shone in that game, didn’t he? Scoring twice to turn the scoreline around must have felt like vindication for him.
Dr. Rebecca Miles: Absolutely! It was poetic for Kühn to excel against his former club. He showed fantastic skill and composure, particularly with that second goal. Celtic fans, including Rod Stewart in the stands, must have felt a surge of pride. It highlights the depth of talent in Celtic and their ability to capitalize on weaknesses in opponents.
Time.news Editor: After the initial goal from Leipzig, they managed to control the game for a bit. Then, it seemed that frustration set in. What tactics should Leipzig have employed to regain their footing?
Dr. Rebecca Miles: Leipzig needed to adapt their tactical approach. They should have focused on better ball retention to disrupt Celtic’s rhythm and counter the high pressing. Coach Marco Rose rightly emphasized the need to manage pressure situations, but they lacked the creative solutions to break through Celtic’s well-organized defense.
Time.news Editor: Towards the end of the match, with Celtic leading 3-1, what does this defeat mean for Leipzig’s chances of progressing in the Champions League?
Dr. Rebecca Miles: Unfortunately, it severely limits their chances. With four losses, they find themselves in a precarious position. To advance, they would need a remarkable turnaround in their remaining matches, plus favorable results from other teams in their group. It will take a monumental effort to qualify now.
Time.news Editor: It’s not just Leipzig facing challenges either. Real Madrid has also been underperforming this season. What are your thoughts on their struggles and the broader implications for top clubs in the tournament?
Dr. Rebecca Miles: Real Madrid’s inconsistency is certainly surprising given their legacy in the Champions League. They need to address the underlying issues that are affecting their game. We’re seeing a shift in European football where traditionally dominant clubs are facing increased pressure from emerging teams, making the Champions League more competitive than ever.
Time.news Editor: That’s a fascinating observation. The landscape is definitely shifting. Thank you, Dr. Miles, for your insights today!
Dr. Rebecca Miles: My pleasure! I always enjoy discussing the beautiful game, especially during such an exciting tournament.