bundesliga

Loïs Openda stars as RB Leipzig strengthen Champions League grip with Borussia Dortmund win

28.04.2024

Loïs Openda scored one and assisted another as RB Leipzig beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 to open up a five-point lead on their victims in the race for next season's UEFA Champions League.

RB Leipzig 4-1 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Sancho 20', 1-1 Openda 23' (assist: Xavi), 2-1 Šeško 45'+2, 3-1 Simakan 46' (assist: Openda), 4-1 Baumgartner 80' (assist: Henrichs)

Leipzig welcomed Dortmund to the Red Bull Arena just two points better off than their visitors in the race for Europe, and both teams started with attacking intent. It was BVB who struck first, with Jadon Sancho curling an unstoppable shot beyond the recently indomitable Péter Gulácsi. Julian Brandt then had a fizzing effort from range turned around the post by the big Hungary No.1 as Die Schwarzgelben looked to make the game undeniably black and yellow. But Leipzig recovered midway through the half, with Openda staying just onside to nudge home Xavi's cross for his 24th goal of the season. Dani Olmo then had a penalty claim waved away by referee Deniz Aytekin before Benjamin Šeško gave them the go-ahead goal, reacting quickest after Gregor Kobel had parried Xaver Schlager's shot.

The second half was barely a minute old when Leipzig pulled further clear, with Openda squaring for Mo Simakan for the simplest of finishes. Julian Ryerson might have pulled one back with the very next attack but his shot was too close to Gulácsi. With the game running away from him, Edin Terzić sent winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on for defensive midfielder Salih Özcan, and the young Englishman fizzed another attempt past the far post soon after. But Leipzig settled again and Openda was only a Kobel fingertip away from bagging his brace after his shot ricocheted off Niklas Süle. Leipzig's fourth did follow, though, with Christoph Baumgartner fishing at the back post from Benjamin Henrich's cross. A last-gasp Amadou Haidara block denied Niclas Füllkrug late on and Leipzig ran out worthy 4-1 winners.

Match stats

Openda's 24 goals are the third-most in a maiden Bundesliga season. The former Lens man only trails Harry Kane (34) and Uwe Seeler (30).
Šeško's 11 goals so far this term are the second-highest for a player aged under 21 - after Bayer Leverkusen jewel Florian Wirtz.
Leipzig have won six of their past seven competitive games against Dortmund.
Sancho has more goals and wins against Leipzig than any other opponent in his career - six of each.
Dortmund have finished ahead of Leipzig in five of the past seven Bundesliga seasons.
Leipzig had 21 shots at goal compared to Dortmund's 12 on theirs.

Watch: Loïs Openda talks Leipzig confidence

Teams

Leipzig: Gulácsi - Simakan (Henrichs 51'), Orbán (c), Castello, Raum - Xavi, Haidara (Seiwald 87'), Schlager (Kampl 88'), Olmo -, Šeško (Baumgartner 70'), Openda (Klostermann 88')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Bitshiabu, Elmas, Poulsen
Out: -
Coach: Marco Rose

Dortmund: Kobel (c) - Wolf, Hummels (Süle 51'), Schlotterbeck, Ryerson (Moukoko 71') - Nmecha, Özcan (Bynoe-Gittens 63') - Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi - Füllkrug
Unused subs: Meyer, Morey, Reus, Sabitzer, Pohlmann, Wätjen
Out: Bensebaini (knee), Can (suspended), Haller (ankle), Maatsen (suspended), Malen (thigh)
Coach: Edin Terzić