The home side's fans were excited packing into the Volksbank Stadion to see five new signings as FSV were revamped by Tomas Oral, who replaced Benno Möhlmann over the summer, manager of four years, hoping to better their 13th placed finish last year.
Leipzig ‘splashed the cash’ in terms of a 2. Bundesliga side, as they aim to make it to the Bundesliga for the first time in their short history. Today, everyone got to see the eagerly awaited duo of Davie Selke, summer signing from Werder Bremen for £5million, as well as striking partner Yussuf Poulsen.
Also during pre season, after weeks of speculation Ralf Rangnick was given the job of head coach. The new deal sees him stay at the club until 2019.
The start to the game was very quick, with Frankfurt sending five players forward straight from kick off. Former Fortuna Düsseldorf winger Timm Golley tried confusing his opponent, but Stefan Hierländer took the no nonsense approach and fouled the winger. The free-kick provided no cause for concern, as it was well defended and cleared by the visitors.
There was a short delay early in the game as Florian Ballas went down injured following Davie Selke’s tackle. The injury was too severe for the centre back to carry on and Lukas Gugganig replaced him after ten minutes.
The hosts squandered a golden opportunity shortly afterwards, as FSV broke free after dispossessing Leipzig’s attack. As the Bornheimer broke, only the 22-year-old Turk Atinc Nukan was back for Leipzig.
The hosts attacked three-on-one, Mario Engels had acres of space in front of him, along with Zlatko Dedic and Timm Golley. Engels found Dedic but the pass was behind the lone-striker - he managed to get his shot away but Fabio Coltorti stood his ground and came to spare Red Bull blushes.
Five minutes later it was Leipzig’s turn to attack. Summer signing Davie Selke found himself with some space on the far side, he opened up his body and fired goalwards from the edge of box leaving Andre Weis to make an easy save. Weis replaced long-term goalkeeper Patric Klandt, who transferred to fellow 2. Bundesliga team SC Freiburg in the summer.
Before the half an hour mark, Selke was making his presence felt once again. The young German broke free of his marker, Alexander Bittroff, and his diving glancing header trickled wide, Weis could only watch it roll past the post.
A wonderfully worked free-kick saw a pinpoint diagonal ball to Stefan Ilsanker but he couldn’t make the most of his space and headed over. Frustration was starting to become evident for Leipzig as they kept pressing and pressing for a goal.
Marcel Sabitzer dispossessed Alexander Huber on the edge of his own box, Emil Forsberg held up the ball and gave it back to Sabitzer, whose shot was blocked but the looping ball was met by Poulsen who headed wide - the anger and disappointment on his face was evident.
Robert Hartmann brought the first half to a close. FSV should’ve at least got a goal on the board, however, the visitors were dominant in the first 45 with Selke, Sabitzer and Poulsen causing problems for the Frankfurt defence.
Second half pick up from an exciting first period
The second half resumed and it was straight into the action again. Zlatko Dedic hesitated twice before jinking past the defender to give him an extra yard of space, but he could only drill his shot wide - Coltorti was cemented to his position. But the visitors woke up and Forsberg delivered to the back post to Sabitzer who knocked down for Ilsaknker; his side-footed effort flew into the crowd. Leipzig still couldn’t quite find the final touch to score.
Leipzig take the lead
RB Leipzig finally turned their pressure into a goal, as Anthony Jung picked out Marcel Sabitzer with a brilliant pass. Sabitzer beat Weis to the loose ball and poked home to give the visitors a well-deserved lead.
They were not stopping there. Immediately after the opener, Poulsen saw his shot blocked following a spell of brilliant passing play from Rangnick’s side, which split FSV’s defence wide opener but Poulsen failed to take advantage of tremendous team play.
FSV dominate the latter stages
Rather bizarrely, Frankfurt's best chance of the second half up until the 70th minute came from a direct corner. Yann Rolim’s delivery had enough curl to force Coltorti to scramble back to push the corner over the bar. Soon after that chance, Golley’s cross was cleared but only as far to substitute Edmond Kapllani, who struck the ball on the half volley but he could only see his shot whistle past the post.
FSV went into the last ten minutes with momentum on their side, Leipzig failed to test Weis and now they were on the back foot after a very strong first half. Timm Golley won and took a free-kick after being fouled by the provider for Leipzig’s goal, Jung. Golley floated it to the back post towards debutant Lukas Gugganig but he failed to get his header on target and fluffed his lines at a crucial time.
Against the run of play, substitute Massimo Bruno skillfully beat his man but he could only fire into the crowd from a tight angle.
In the end, Leipzig held on to take all three points thanks to Marcel Sabitzer’s goal five minutes before the hour mark. However, both sides had mass amounts of chances to make the game theirs.