First-half goals from Marcel Sabitzer and Emil Forsberg earned three points for RasenBallsport Leipzig on Friday evening against a poor SC Paderborn 07 side.

Despite a promising start from the visitors, Ralf Rangnick’s Leipzig found themselves in the lead after 18 minutes, with Sabitzer netting his second goal of the 2. Bundesliga campaign with a finish from close range.

It took the hosts just another 10 minutes before they grabbed their second. Four players lined up for a free-kick, but it was 23-year-old Forsberg who took responsibility in firing the ball past Lukas Kruse.

Marcel Halstenberg, Dominik Kaiser and Forsberg all returned to Rangnick’s first team in place of Rani Khedira and Davie Selke who dropped to the bench, whilst Stefan Ilsanker allegedly overslept in Stockholm, missing a RB Leipzig training session which resulted in squad exclusion.

Losing manager André Breitenreiter to Schalke 04 in the summer, Paderborn couldn’t have got off to a worse start. With just one win in five, Markus Gellhaus named the same starting XI that fell at home to Arminia Bielefeld.

Despite losing their last three and conceding eight in the process, Gellhaus’ Paderborn almost got off to the perfect start 30 seconds into the game. Sebastian Schonlau found the ball at his feet, threading the ball through to Christian Bickel who cut inside, forcing Fabio Coltori into making a save.

The hosts’ first real opportunity came from a 30-yard free-kick moments later. Kaiser stood over the ball, composed, before forcing Kruse into a fingertip save.

Two goals in quick succession

Possession soon paid off for Leipzig who found themselves a goal up after 18 minutes. Sabitzer put the hosts ahead, unmarked in the area, the Austrian prodded his side into the lead.

It didn’t take Leipzig long to bag their second of the evening either. Another free-kick, this time a few yards closer to the goal was taken by the returning Forsberg. The Swedish international struck a curling effort past the stricken Kruse.

Sabitzer came agonisingly close to grabbing his second of the game, cutting inside from 20-yards before seeing his effort clip the outside of the post.

Paderborn couldn’t get a sniff of the ball in the closing stages on the first-half as the hosts went pressing for a third. Leipzig the happier of the two sides.

Gellhaus clearly expressed his concerns during the break too, as his Paderborn side came out attacking from the off, almost pulling a goal back though Süleyman Koç who forced a save from Coltori.

Poor Paderborn

It was clear that Paderborn lacked the directedness and finishing of Elias Kachunga as the visitors failed to create any real chances. A glimpse of the side that played in the Bundesliga last campaign.

Nils Quaschner made almost an instant impact for Leipzig. Linking with Forsberg, the German failed to find the target from three-yards, instead, hitting the post.

Sabitzer came close to grabbing his second of the evening with 20 minutes remaining. The Austrian picked the ball up on the left-flank, dribbling to the by-line before forcing Kruse into yet another save.

Mahir Sağlık made an instant contribution for Paderborn, coming on as a substitute in the closing stages. Born in Paderborn, the German had the ball in the Leipzig net, which was ruled out by Bibiana Steinhaus for a push on a Leipzig defender.

The result sees Leipzig climb to third in the 2. Bundesliga, and with a trip to in-form FC Heidenheim next week, Rangnick’s men may well be in for a treat.