Dani Olmo brace sends RB Leipzig to crucial win

Dani Olmo netted twice in as many minutes to help Leipzig secure a 2-0 at Hoffenheim to further their position in the top four of the Bundesliga this evening.

Julian Nagelsmann was able to taste victory on his first return to Hoffenheim, having left the club for Leipzig last summer.

Hoffenheim started the brightest as Christoph Baumgartner narrowly missed a great chance low into the bottom corner.

Their early control showed when they were awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi brought Munas Dabbur down in the box. However, VAR ruled this out due to handball from Christoph Baumgartner earlier in the attack.

The visitors then struck twice in the space of two minutes thanks to two strikes from Dani Olmo to help  Nagelsmann’s side take control in the early stages.

The hosts nearly responded moments later, Dabbur seeing a shot brilliantly blocked by Lukas Klostermann to keep Leipzig’s advantage at two goals.

Leipzig almost added a third before the half-way mark of the first half, but Timo Werner was unable to be picked out at the back post following an undercooked pass from the right.

Hoffenheim came close to pulling a goal back, only for Dabbur to be denied by the crossbar following a brilliant ball in from Sebastian Rudy.

Chelsea target Timo Werner came close to extending the visitors’ advantage, firing over the top when played through one on one with the keeper just before the break.

 

 

That proved to be the final meaningful chance of the first half, as the visitors went into the break two goals to the good.

The home side made two changes at the break, Andrej Kramaric and Robert Skov coming on for Steven Zuber and Diadie Samassékou as they went in search of a route back into the game.

Rudy had the best opportunity at the start of the second half, sending his effort goalwards but it was comfortably tipped round the post by Gulácsi in the Leipzig’ goal.

Moments later, the visitors thought they had a third, but Werner was adjudged to have failed to beat the offside trap before he squared it to Manchester City loanee Angelino, who slotted in from close range, only for it to be disallowed.

Skov had the opportunity to reduce the deficit just past the hour mark when he worked some space on the right flank but his effort was easily saved by Gulácsi.

Olmo had a chance to complete his hat-trick with 25 minutes remaining, sending his effort from inside the box wide of the far post.

Die Kraichgauer continued to pile on the pressure with defender Stefan Posch being found inside the box, but the 23-year-old was unable to make a proper contact as the shot went wide.

Werner nearly made it three in the last few moments but he was unable to convert from a tight angle on the left hand side of the box.

The home side continued to press for a goal but they were unable to find a way past the impressive Gulácsi who made a number of top-class saves throughout the evening.

The result takes the away side a point behind Borussia Dortmund who are in action tomorrow against lowly Dusseldorf and further cements their place in the top four of the Bundesliga with just three games remaining.

 

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