In a tightly contested affair Ralf Ragnick's RB Leipzig were able to secure a hard fought three points, through a Marcel Sabitzer strike, that sees them return to the top of the 2. Bundesliga table tied with SC Freiburg.
The start of both halfs was synonymous with Karlsruher SC pressure, although they were unable to convert none of their resultant chances beyond Fabio Coltorti. die Roten Bullen however grew into the game and were gifted a lifeline as Dimitrios Diamantakos saw a penalty saved by Coltorti. RB Leipzig took full advantage however and a Sabitzer strike on the cusp of seventy minutes saw all three points return to Saxony.
Events even at the Wildsparkstadion
The accustomed jibes and protest that follow the highly controversial RB Leipzig, were not to be amiss on the eve's occasion as the local Rhein-Fire group produced an ever so familiar banner donning the usual derogatory slogans. The hole Wildsparkstadion united in support for die KSC, save for the small band of Leipzig fans that had made the journey from Saxony.
The mid-table hosts, Karlsruher SC, enjoyed the better of the opening affrays. Both Boubacar Barry and Dennis Kempe had efforts to challenge Fabio Coltorti, between the die Roten Bullen sticks for the sixteenth time this campaign, although the former lashed his effort wide whilst Kempe produced an effort that was a mere formality for the Swiss stopper.
Yet after these two efforts had passed and the early pressure subsided the much fancied visitors were able to grasp a firm clutch on proceedings and inflict large swathes of pressure on the hosts for the vast majority of the opening half.
The majority of Ralf Ragnick's side play came down the left flank, courtesy of full back Marcel Halstenberg - The £2.1 million fee required to secure his services looking a real steal, as the former St. Pauli man joined Davie Selke in making the switch from the North of Germany. Unfortunately for Ragnick however Halstenberg was to spurn the chances, as well as corners, provided to him.
Dominik Kaiser, long time servant of the Red Bull backed club opposed to his newly joined team-mate Halstenberg, was highly influential during the first half and was at the end of many moves stemming from the left back as well as other areas of the field. He troubled not Dirk Orlishausen however, but the many Karlsruhe fans packed onto the terraces such was the waywardness of his efforts. His fellow Roten Bullen players, Emil Forsberg and Lukas Klostermann did however test Orlishausen with long rang efforts of their own - but were unable to break Markus Kauczinski's sides resistance.
The hosts in reply with only able to offer a Manuel Torres effort in anger, that allow on target suffered the same fate as Dennis Kempe's before him and was easily saved by Coltorti once more.
Die Roten Bullen barge their way into the lead in Baden
Similarly to the opening forty five minutes, die KSC started the second forty five again in a fast paced manor but in contrast to the first they were able to keep the pressure up. From the source of Enrico Valentini's corners the Wildsparkstadion side were able to fashion a number of chances; the most dangerous coming through Martin Stoll which forced Fabio Coltorti into an improvised save.
However the overwhelming feature of Karlsruher chances was the inability to truly test Coltorti and on most occasions miss the target completely. The Italian, Valentini the latest culprit as he slashed an effort wide of the goal. Kempe also once again missing another chance.
The hosts would be presented with a glorious opportunity to undo the deadlock however, as Greek Dimitrios Diamantakos was felled in the box leaving referee Robert Hartmann no choice but to award the hosts a spot kick. The fouled man, also on loan from Olympiakos, stepped up to take the resulting penalty with only Fabio Coltorti - yet the 197cm frame of the die Roten Bullen 'keeper was too much for the Greek striker and Coltorti was able to parry away. Diamantakos with only the singular goal so far this season.
Following the penalty miss, Ralf Ragnick's side were able to gather themselves and pose an actual threat towards the Karlsruhe goal which they had previously been unable to do. Again, Marcel Halstenberg at the centre of play for die Roten Bullen and following a melee in the box was unfortunate not to round off an accomplished performance with the opening goal - Orlishausen matching the left back's effort.
Moments later however there was finally a goal to break the deadlock. Marcel Sabitzer hammering home to bundle RB Leipzig into the lead. A corner was half cleared to the Austrian, who was "traded" between the Leipzig based side and their Salzburg equivalents in the summer, after taking one touch lashed home beyond the hapless Orlishausen.
The goal seemed to knock all confidence out of a Karlsruher SC side that had previously posed a meaningful danger to the RB Leipzig back four and goalkeeper. die Roten Bullen threatening to extend their lead through the goal scorer Sabitzer as well as Davie Selke - who had a quiet night by his usual standards - but were unable to add an undeserved gloss to the score line. The hosts in return were toothless save for a weak Erwin Hoffer; sent on more in desperation by Kauczinski in the later stages.