Leipzig (AP) – Coach Frank Kramer roared his joy into the Leipzig evening sky, his lucky players sagged completely exhausted on the lawn of the empty arena.
Arminia Bielefeld disgraced RB Leipzig in the last game of the year and with the 2-0 (0-0) scored three unexpected points in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. For Leipzig’s new coach Domenico Tedesco it was the first defeat in the third game.
«We played with discipline for 95 minutes. We were there, we all played a huge game together. We didn’t allow a lot and were there twice as ice-cold at just the right moments, ”said Janni Serra. The Arminia striker (57th minute) took the lead and for the first time in the Bundesliga. Masaya Okugawa (75th) even increased for Bielefeld, although attacker Fabian Klos had seen the red card five minutes earlier.
RB with only 22 points in the first half of the season
There was disillusionment on the part of Leipzig, after a strong start, coach Tedesco should have been down to earth a week later. “We were seldom dangerous, had too little power and straightforwardness,” said defense chief Willi Orban. “The way wasn’t good, that’s why we’re angry.” With only 22 points, RB played its worst first division first half and even posted six points less than in the 2017/18 season under coach Ralph Hasenhüttl.
The last home game of the year started with a setback for RB. Emil Forsberg, who was very strong in the 1-1 draw in Augsburg, slipped away so unhappily after five minutes that he had to be replaced with injuries. Arminia could only smile mildly about Leipzig’s worries. Because due to positive Corona tests, the promoted goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and midfielder Manuel Prietl were missing two top performers. Replacement keeper Stefanos Kapino and Sebastian Vasiliadis replaced the duo.
The first half was playful at a moderate level, the Forsberg failure quickly made itself felt at RB. Leipzig knew so little to begin with with a whopping 76 percent possession of the ball that harmless shots from Dominik Szoboszlai (12th) and Angeliño (43rd) had to be considered highlights for the time being. Suddenly the ball was still in the Leipziger Tor. But the conclusion of Okugawa (44th) after a wonderful combination did not count, because the passer-by Patrick Wimmer was delicately offside. It was the only shot on goal in the first half by either team.
Serra scores for Bielefeld
Leipzig returned from the half-time break much more determined, but the goal made Bielefeld again. And this time it counted. Wimmer failed with his shot at RB keeper Peter Gulacsi, but the margin from Serra was on. For the 23-year-old it was the first goal in the Bundesliga with his sixth shot on goal.
Tedesco then replaced playmaker Kevin Kampl with Amadou Haidara – which seemed interesting at first glance, given a deficit. Shortly afterwards the next change in personnel. Referee Frank Willenborg showed Klos after video evidence the red card for a foul on Willi Orban – a decision worth discussing. The striker had just been substituted on twelve minutes earlier. The Arminia, however, was unimpressed. Haidara made a fatal bad pass in the foot of Florian Krüger, who served the goalscorer Okugawa. The Japanese flicked the ball into the far corner worth seeing. From then on, Leipzig pushed for the connection, but did not get any significant chance.