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Match Report: RB Leipzig (H)

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Pre-match

The Alte Försterei is a beautiful place under the lights. Skipping the usual Abseitsfalle meetup, we headed straight for the stands as a big group of UBI members gathered to see 1. FC Union play football against the Footballing Leipzig Red Drinks Cows.

Our prognosis was somewhat less than positive. We didn't know which Union would show up today; the team which destroyed Mainz, or the team which got destroyed by Pauli.

Around the stadium were anti-RB posters and flyers calling for the customary 15 minute silent protest against our opponents, emblazoned with the falsest of false friends in the German language. 'RB ist Gift für den Fußball', read the signs. That's Gift as in poison, not Gift as in gift.

Never give gifts to Germans, that's the lesson here.

Anyway, where were we? Ah yes. RB Leipzig. Fittingly their shiny plastic customers bought a load of silly little shiny plastic flags and left them all over the stadium at the end. Charming.

RB missed a real branding trick when naming their club. There were so many better options. Cowsruhe. Bovine Potsdam. Buy-ern Moo-nchen.

For us, Baumgart rang the changes after the debacle in Hamburg. Rönnow made his long-awaited return to rapturous cheers, dear lord we missed him.

Haberer and Benes came into midfield next to Khedira, while up front the lesser-spotted Prtajin led the line, his first start.

In the warmup, Skarke of all people was belting them in from everywhere. The vibe in the stadium felt good, despite our recent travails.

First Half

We kicked off into a protest silence which was well observed by both sets of fans, the RB customers seemingly contractually forbidden from making any noise.

On the pitch, this was definitely not the Pauli game. We were instantly aggressive all over, and defensively rock solid, I thought.

Despite some big names in the opposing ranks, I can't recall the visitors having much of a sniff in the first half. We harried and pressed all over, Haberer in particular making a real nuisance of himself.

At the other end, we had some joy releasing Hollerbach down the left, Skov also getting up to support. Prtajin was in a real battle against the three centre backs but acquitted himself well.

Hollerbach leathered one at goal but it was routine for the keeper. We had started so well, murmurs turned to what we should do if we scored.

Alas we didn't, but Union continued to be in the ascendancy for most of the first half. And after the 15 minutes were up, the Alte Försterei was pure noise for the remainder of the game.

A good chance came to Juranovic after we again worked it well on the left, the ball coming across to him to hit a sweet volley from outside the box that was just too close to the goalie.

Openda and Sesko were trying to fid their way out of Doekhi and Leite's pockets with no success. Xavi Simons floated around doing pretty, ineffective things and falling over a lot.

To the referee's credit, he quickly saw through the playacting and let challenges stand.

We had one heart in mouth moment at the end of the half, Simons jinking through and dinking a lovely chip over the diving Rönnow, but it clipped the outside of the post and he was flagged offside anyway.

A first half low on shots but high on entertainment, Leipzig definitely not enjoying their time here in Berlin.

I'd say we edged the first half, Leipzig certainly were never allowed to get into a rhythm and we had the best of the few chances.

Second Half

It was more of the same in the second half, Union all over the opponents. Skarke, who I thought had a very good game, won strong applause for a breakneck burst to close down Raum right by the Leipzig corner flag.

We were getting in with regularity on the flanks now, Leipzig looking tired and rattled but the ball not quite dropping. A cross came in from the left with three waiting, but it went agonisingly behind everyone.

Raum was not a happy man, giving some aggro back to the crowd in the Gegengerade after he got skinned by a combination of Skarke and Juranovic for the umpteenth time.

In the middle, Khedira and Haberer looked immense - not just tackling and breaking up but calm and assured on the ball. Khedira played a little further forward and it worked, with Haberer able to do more of the hard yards.

Prtajin was making life hell for the defence, closing down and challenging every header like a man possessed. He didn't have any huge chances against a strong and physical defence, but he ran himself ragged for the team and can be proud of his performance.

We were well on top when Hollerbach suddenly got through in the middle after we won the ball back on halfway and got around them quickly. Hollerbach did really well to dance past a couple, the ball sitting up nicely for him to smash a half volley from just inside the box.

Gulacsi saved it with his face and he definitely felt it, but it was a big opportunity.

Prtajin was absolutely cooked, hands on knees and puffing. It woud have been great to keep the team unchanged and carry on the momentum, but Prtajin at least had to come off.

In the end, Baumgart made 3 or 4 subs at once, Jordan, Trimmel and Jeong coming on. I thought it would kill the momentum and it did for a while, the subs not coming in with the blood and thunder of their predecessors.

Leipzig started to get a grip and suddenly Simons released Sesko who finished well past Rönnow. The caffeinated hordes from Leipzig whispered their delight and waved some promotional material in the air, but their joy was short lived as the flag went up to chalk the goal off.

A reprieve and a relief for Union, who took the invitation to get right back on top. Poulsen came on for the visitors, didn't touch the ball and immediately got booked for flattening one of our defenders.

Jordan looked good dropping deep and releasing a teammate down the left, but he couldn't trudge forward in time to get on the end of a good cross.

The game ticked into 5 minutes of stoppage time with waves of Union attacks, all repelled by Leipzig. Jeong had a good effort from distance tipped over, and came even closer with a header which dropped just wide moments later. Agonising.

In the last of those minutes, Gulacsi came for a cross and dropped it at the feet of Jordan - we held our breath for a winner which wold have taken the roof off, but the contact wasn't clean and Leipzig scrambled it off the line somehow!

After the game Jordan and Tousart had a few words with each other, I wonder if Tousart got in the way of the chance.

Alas, it wasn't to be but this was a marked improvement from us. Committed, calm on the ball, dangerous and deserved to win. Khedira collapsed on the turf, flat out, at the final whistle - testament to the effort of the day.

We all played our part in a good point today, it was the Alte Försterei at its seething best, players and fans giving everything.

If only we can keep playing like that. Here's hoping.

No better place to be on a Saturday night.

Eisern!

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By @MarkJB on Bluesky