RB Leipzig secured a 2-1 victory against Sporting in a Champions League match, marking their first win in the league phase of the competition. The match took place in Germany, where Leipzig, already eliminated from the competition, hosted Sporting, who were aiming for a top-eight finish.
Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring in the 19th minute, connecting with a pass from David Raum, who had returned from injury. Raum himself had a goal disallowed for offside in the 31st minute. Sporting had opportunities to level the score before halftime, but Leipzig maintained their lead, with Xavi Simons firing over the bar in the 49th minute.
In the second half, Amadou Haidara’s shot bounced off the post, but Sporting’s substitute Viktor Gyokeres scored an equalizer in the 75th minute, after beating defender Willi Orban. However, Leipzig responded quickly, with Yussuf Poulsen bundling the ball over the line just three minutes later to secure the win for the German side.
This defeat is a blow to Sporting’s Champions League campaign. They had been unbeaten in their first four matches of the league phase but have now lost three in a row. The loss means Sporting’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage are significantly reduced.
They are currently 19th in the standings with 10 points, with one game left. The top eight teams will advance to the round of 16, while the next 16 will compete in a playoff to secure a place in the knockout stage.
For RB Leipzig, this victory was a positive outcome. Despite having already been eliminated from the Champions League, the win marked a turnaround after losing their first six league phase matches. The match also marked the Champions League debut for Sporting coach Rui Borges.
The match saw both teams showing attacking intent, with chances at both ends. However, Leipzig’s resilience and quick response ultimately secured them the victory.
This result leaves Sporting in a difficult position as they head into their final matchday, with the need to fight for a play-off spot, while RB Leipzig will look to build on their win as they continue in domestic competitions.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cn011pldv0rt
https://theprint.in/sport/soccer-leipzig-earn-first-champions-league-win-with-2-1-over-sporting/2458126/
https://onefootball.com/en/news/live-leipzig-and-sporting-in-action-in-ucl-before-man-city-face-psg-40599552
