3-1 win in Bern: Leipzig struggling to win first leg

Tcosmic start, disappointment and then redemption: Xaver Schlager and Benjamin Sesco gave RB Leipzig a successful start in the Champions League, despite a mysterious drop in performance during that time. The Austrian started the turning point in a 3-1 win over underdogs Young Boys Bern in the 73rd minute before Benjamin Sesco scored the final score in the third minute of stoppage time.

Mohamed Simakan gave the Saxons a great start in the third minute of the game. But in front of 31,500 spectators at the sold-out Wankdorf Stadium, Bern equalized in the 33rd minute through Mechack Elia. Thanks to the victory on artificial turf, Leipzig are now not under as much pressure going into the second round against defending champions Manchester City as they would have been if they had dropped a point.

The Leipzig team started as if they were eager to compete again in the top class. Just over 30 seconds later, newcomer Lois Openda had the first good chance, but his shot hit the side goal. Just two minutes after David Raum’s corner, Simakan headed the ball into the near corner. Bern’s goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi didn’t look good at all.

Rose complains on the sidelines

So, in fact, everything went according to the guests’ plan. Actually, because after clear dominance at the beginning of the game, the Leipzig team suddenly stopped. Instead of continuing to combine quickly forward, almost only long passes followed. All precision was lost when switching. Rose noticed this on the sidelines and loudly complained about his team’s poor passing. But it did not help. Elia sent a pike into the far corner for the ever-improving Swiss.

Due to the mysterious hacking of the Republic of Belarus, the stadium became even louder. Former Bundesliga professional Raphael Wicky led Bern to league and cup glory last summer – with spectators correspondingly delighted by the club’s third appearance in the Champions League group stage. At this stage the game was played almost exclusively in the half of an increasingly passive Leipzig team.

Why RB was dismantled this way was probably a mystery, and not just to Rose. Even after the break, there was almost nothing from his team at first. The only hope for a turnaround was the scandalous scene in the hosts’ penalty area. A few minutes after the break, Javi Simons went down after a struggle with Racioppi, but the referee initially decided to continue play. He then looked at the scene on the screen: because Xavi was actively seeking contact with the goalkeeper’s leg, there was no penalty.

However, the Bundesliga club returned to the game better after that. After another powerful cross from Rauma, Openda could only header into the goal from close range, but Racioppi parried the shot. Soon after, substitute Benjamin Sesco (67th) scored with a header from another pass from space, but was found to be offside. Leipzig were now getting better and better into the game, also because Bern was obviously out of breath. Schlager took advantage of the increasing passivity of the Swiss and fired into the far corner from a good 18 meters.

Leipzig now dominated the game, which at least earned Timo Werner a brief appearance. The out-of-form national team striker entered the game for Openda in the 88th minute. Sesco briefly scored the final score.