bundesliga

Yussuf Poulsen hits back to earn RB Leipzig a point at Eintracht Frankfurt

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RB Leipzig missed out on the chance to draw level with Bayern Munich at the top of the table but substitute Yussuf Poulsen did get them a point after cancelling out Aymen Barkok’s opener for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Barkok (43’), 1-1 Poulsen (57’)

Daichi Kamada fired wide of the mark early on for the midtable home side, but Leipzig soon took control with a typical high-intensity start. The visitors led the shot count 5-1 after 15 minutes, with Dani Olmo having the best opportunity. The Spaniard was played in by Christopher Nkunku, but saw his clipped finish over Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp land on the roof of the net. Olmo then flashed a header across goal soon afterwards before Martin Hinteregger headed over at the other end from the Eagles’ first corner. Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano failed to make the most of finding space in the opposition area and Trapp also turned a shot from Angelino behind in what was a keenly fought opening period. It was the home side who broke the deadlock, though, with Aymen Barkok pouncing on a defensive error as a free-kick was allowed to bounce just outside the penalty area. The 22-year-old chested the ball closer to goal before sending an angled finish across Leipzig No. 1 Peter Gulacsi.

The visitors sent on Willi Orban, Emil Forsberg, and Poulsen at half-time but the home side almost doubled their lead within 70 seconds of the restart. Raiding down the left, Filip Kostic saw his strike from a tight angle hit the post via the foot of Gulasci. That save proved crucial since Danish striker Poulsen got Leipzig level. The 26-year-old got across Hinteregger to brilliantly steer Angelino’s left-wing cross into the far corner. Leipzig continued to dominate possession thereafter but it was Eintracht had a great chance to win it with 13 minutes left. Hungarian international Gulacsi closed the gap between his legs just in time, though, after Andre Silva had toepoked the ball goalwards from Barkok’s pass. Poulsen almost won it from a corner for Leipzig with two minutes left, but the points were shared after Trapp spread himself to save.

Match stats

  • Morocco international Barkok, who spent last season on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf, marked his first start of the season by scoring his first goal of the campaign. He netted on his 50th appearance in the Bundesliga.
  • Eintracht have now drawn four of their last five Bundelsiga matches.
  • The Eagles have gone unbeaten at home to Leipzig in 2020. In January they won 2-0 in the league, which they followed up on a few days later win a 3-1 DFB Cup win.
  • Poulsen scored his third league goal of the season. One of his five goals in 2019/20 came in a 2-1 home success against Eintracht.
  • Angelino has been Leipzig's most potent attacking asset this term. The Manchester City-owned left wing-back has five goals and two assists in all competitions.
  • Leipzig are enjoying their best ever start to a season after eight games played, with five wins, 17 points and just five goals conceded.

Watch: Poulsen: "Angelino's been taunting me that I haven't scored"

Line-ups

Frankfurt: Trapp - Abraham (c), Hinteregger, N'Dicka - Durm, Sow, Ilsanker, Kostic - Kamada (Kohr 63'), Barkok - Silva (Dost 79')
Unused subs: Schubert, Zuber, Toure, Hasebe, Chandler, da Costa, Tuta
Out: Ache (thigh), Rode (thigh), Younes (not included)
Coach: Adi Hütter 

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Adams, Konate, Upamecano (Orban HT), Angelino - Sabitzer (c), Kampl - Haidara, Olmo (Forsberg HT), Nkunku (Kluivert 72') - Sorloth (Poulsen HT)
Unused subs: Martinez, Samardzic, Henrichs, Borkowski, Wosz
Out: Halstenberg (groin), Hwang (not included), Klostermann (knee), Laimer (knee), Mukiele (thigh)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Watch: Barkok: "I hope I can keep going"