Leipzig's eight-minute frenzy secures comfortable victory over Heidenheim
Leipzig bounced back from defeat against Bayern in style, with Antonio Nusa and Yan Diomande starring in a 3-0 defeat of Heidenheim.
Heidenheim 0-3 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Baku 62' (Assist: Diomande), 0-2 Nusa 68' (Assist: Seiwald), 0-3 Raum 70' (Assist: Diomande)
After suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat against Bayern Munich on Matchday 18, Leipzig looked to bounce back against struggling Heidenheim at the Voith-Arena. The hosts were sitting in the relegation play-off position with just 13 points from 18 matches.
Leipzig started brightly, with Nusa striking the post in the fourth minute after a good pass from Ridle Baku. The visitors thought they had taken the lead moments later when Christoph Baumgartner finished from David Raum's cutback, but the flag was raised for offside.
Despite Leipzig's early dominance, it was the hosts who created the best chance of the half in the 12th minute. Mathias Honsak delivered a superb cross to Arijon Ibrahimović, who was unmarked seven metres from goal, but his volley was straight at Péter Gulácsi. As half-time approached, Marvin Pieringer wasted another golden opportunity for Heidenheim, scooping over from close range in stoppage time.
Ibrahimović then tested Gulácsi again immediately after the restart, but it was Leipzig who began to assert their superiority shortly after. The visitors created a flurry of chances in the 53rd minute, with Ramaj making multiple saves in a pinball-like sequence.
The breakthrough finally came in the 62nd minute when Baku received the ball from Diomande on the right, cut inside into the penalty area, and hammered a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner. Six minutes later, Nusa doubled Leipzig's lead with a slaloming run through the Heidenheim defence before firing low into the bottom corner.
The visitors weren't finished, and in the 70th minute, Raum made it 3-0 with a thunderous strike into the roof of the net after another assist from Diomande.
Man of the Match: Antonio Nusa
Nusa was the standout performer, causing problems for the Heidenheim defence throughout. The Norwegian winger was unlucky not to score in the fourth minute when his shot struck the post, but he got his reward in the 68th minute with a brilliant solo goal.
Nusa had more shots than any other player on the pitch and consistently troubled Stergiou with his pace and dribbling ability. His goal, struck at 104.6 km/h, capped off an impressive display that saw him deservedly named Man of the Match with 32% of the votes.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Heidenheim 1.00 - Leipzig 2.21
Fastest player: Arijon Ibrahimović (Heidenheim), 33.51 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-1 by Ridle Baku (Leipzig), 5.6 percent
Most pressed player: Yan Diomande (Leipzig), 31 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: El Chadaille Bitshiabu (Leipzig), +3.4
Fantasy Heroes: Yan Diomande (Leipzig, 337 Points), Antonio Nusa (Leipzig, 323 Points), Ridle Baku (Leipzig, 286 Points)
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