The Red Bull Arena was the venue for Monday's Bundesliga 2 action and it was the home side that came out on top after a fantastic performance.
The hosts for this evening were 7th place RB Leipzig and they went into the game with two draws and a win in their last three games. Last time out they secured a hard fought draw with the in-form Karlsruher, with another tough test tonight they'll be hoping to go one better and earn a victory to go 5th.
The visitors, Düsseldorf can also go up to 5th place with a victory. They currently sit in 6th place after defeating Heidenheim and playing a part in the highly entertaining draw with Bochum. Düsseldorf have started to regain their early season form since the departure of Oliver Reck, tonight they'll be hoping to continue their good start under Taşkın Aksoy.
It was Leipzig that started the better of the two and they took the lead after just seven minutes, a corner from Dominik Kaiser managed to bounce all the way past everyone to find Rodnei free at the back post, the Brazilian took his chance and directed it in. Leipzig continued to cause problems and a long range shot from Stefan Hierländer saw Michael Rensing in action, however he comfortably saved.
Rensing was the busier of the two keepers and he had to be alert to keep his side in the game. From a freekick he managed to pull off a good save with his forearm to deny Anthony Jung. Leipzig were by far the better side and they finally got a deserved second just before the half hour mark. Emil Forsberg fired a great effort on target and Rensing once again provided a save, unfortunately he palmed the ball into the path of Joshua Kimmich, who converted his chance as the Düsseldorf defence were caught out once more.
The hosts took a deserved lead into the break, their pressing was impressive and it worked wonders in stopping Düsseldorf playing and Fabio Coltori in the Leipzig goal went largely unchallenged.
Düsseldorf looked much better at the start of the second half and they had a good chance when Charlison Benschop broke down the right and picked out Joel Pohjanpalo in the middle, sadly for the visitors he blazed his chance over.
Just before the hour mark Düsseldorf managed to claw a goal back, Benschop laid the ball off to Sérgio Pinto and the Portuguese midfielder found Pohjanpalo and the Finnish striker finished well into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
The promising Düsseldorf comeback was put to a halt in the 71st minute, once more Leipzig opened up Düsseldorf's defence. Kimmich's ball over the top saw Omer Damari beat Julian Schauerte to the ball before back-heeling to Yussuf Poulsen and the Dane produced a lovely finish to curl his effort past Rensing.
Twelve minutes from time Forsberg had a golden chance to make it 4-1 to Leipzig, after keeping his balance he was through on goal, Rensing however managed to keep him out with his foot and fortunately the rebound stuck Damari and bounced straight back to Rensing.
Late on Benschop had a chance for Düsseldorf after flicking the ball on with his head he managed to get on the end of a poor headed clearance and his volley narrowly went over.
Leipzig put in a great performance to defeat Düsseldorf and they'll be hoping to continue their good form and close the gap on the leading pack. Up next for them they'll travel to Heidenheim and Düsseldorf will need to pick themselves up to show a response against a Darmstadt side on a impressive unbeaten run.