bundesliga

Wooyeong Jeong keeps Freiburg unbeaten in draw with RB Leipzig

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Wooyeong Jeong’s second-half strike kept Freiburg’s record as the only unbeaten team in the Bundesliga this season as they fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with RB Leipzig.

Freiburg 1-1 RB Leipzig
0-1 Forsberg (pen. 32'), 1-1 Jeong (assist: Grifo) 64'

Emil Forsberg gave an early indication of Leipzig’s intent when his curling shot from the edge of the area inside the first minute was well saved by Mark Flekken. Philipp Lienhart was then forced into evasive action to block a dangerous Yussuf Poulsen cross into the box, but it was at the other end of the pitch that the clearest opening arrived. Christian Günter scurried to the left-hand byline and his cutback teed up Jeong for a free shot at goal, but he put it wide from six yards out. It proved to be a costly miss as Leipzig soon took the lead, Forsberg scoring his second goal of the season from the penalty spot after Christopher Nkunku had been brought down by Lienhart. Nkunku later hit the bar with a cross-shot, while Lucas Höler saw his stinging drive cannon off the inside of the post, hit goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and bounce over as Leipzig took a narrow lead into the break.

Determined not to lose the inaugural game in their new home, Freiburg began the second half with renewed purpose and pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Their hard work was  eventually rewarded in the 64th minute when Vincenzo Grifo delivered a brilliant cross from the left to pick out Jeong’s run into the box, and the South Korean headed in from 10 yards out. Freiburg looked more likely to grab a second as the match drew to a close, and Nico Schlotterbeck was denied what appeared to be a certain winner when Gulacsi pulled off a stunning reflex save from his close-range header. The Leipzig goalkeeper was beaten by Nicolas Höfler’s low drive in stoppage time, but was saved by his post, leaving both teams to settle for a point.

Match stats

  • Forsberg has converted 11 of the 13 Bundesliga penalties he's taken, including two this season.
    The Swede thereby became the first person to score a competitive goal in Freiburg's new Europa-Park Stadion.
  • Jeong scored his third league goal of 2021/22, making him Freiburg's leading scorer this term.
  • His effort was Freiburg's fourth headed goal this season, and the first header Leipzig have conceded.
  • Freiburg midfielder Kiliann Sildillia, 19, made his Bundesliga debut in this game.
  • Die Roten Bullen are winless in seven Bundesliga away matches - an unwanted club record.

Watch: Vincenzo Grifo on Freiburg's new home

Line-ups

Freiburg: Flekken - Gulde (Sallai 46', Schade 80'), Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck - Sildillia, Eggestein (Keitel 90'+3), Höfler, Günter (c) - Jeong (Petersen 75'), Höler, Grifo (Demirovic 90'+4)
Unused subs: Uphoff, Haberer, Heintz, K. Schlotterbeck
Out: Kübler (unknown), Schmid (match fitness)
Coach: Christian Streich

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Klostermann, Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol (Angelino 78') - Haidara, Kampl - Szoboszlai (Mukiele 78'), Forsberg (Silva 67'), Nkunku  - Poulsen
Unused subs: Martinez, Moriba, Laimer, Novoa, Raebiger, Henrichs
Out: Brobbey (thigh), Halstenberg (ankle), Martinez (flu), Olmo (thigh), Saracchi (knee)
Coach: Jesse Marsch

Watch: Emil Forsberg discusses Leipzig's progress under Jesse Marsch