Brajan Gruda and Christoph Baumgartner shine as RB Leipzig thrash Hoffenheim
RB Leipzig boosted their UEFA Champions League qualification hopes with a dominant 5-0 victory over fellow top-four rivals Hoffenheim, as Brajan Gruda and Christoph Baumgartner each scored twice before Benjamin Henrichs completed the rout.
RB Leipzig 5-0 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Gruda 17', 2-0 Baumgartner 21' (assist: Raum), 3-0 Baumgartner 30' (assist: Gruda), 4-0 Gruda 44' (assist: Diomande), 5-0 Henrichs 78' (assist: Nusa)
Leipzig and Hoffenheim met at the Red Bull Arena with Champions League qualification firmly in their sights. Both sides entered the match with minimal changes to their established starting XIs, with Ole Werner bringing Gruda and Xaver Schlager into his Leipzig team, whilst Christian Ilzer handed starts to Grischa Prömel and Tim Lemperle for the visitors.
Hoffenheim arrived in impressive form, having accumulated a club record 50 points after 26 matches, with both teams looking to strengthen their claim for a top-four finish in what promised to be a high-speed encounter between two attack-minded sides.
Leipzig's first-half goal blitz
Hoffenheim started brightly, pressing high and causing problems through the lively Bazoumana Toure on the left wing. However, the match was dramatically transformed in the 17th minute when Gruda pounced to open the scoring, reacting quickest after Oliver Baumann could only parry Rômulo's initial shot.
Just four minutes later, the lead was doubled as David Raum's pinpoint cross was met by a thunderous header from Baumgartner. The Austrian wasn't finished there, adding a spectacular third on the half-hour mark with an acrobatic volley after controlling Gruda's cross on his chest.
With Hoffenheim in disarray, Leipzig completed a devastating first-half performance when Gruda tapped in his second in the 44th minute after good work from Yan Diomande.
Henrichs completes the rout
Ilzer made two changes at the interval, introducing Andrej Kramarić and Albian Hajdari in an attempt to salvage some pride. The visitors did show more attacking intent early in the second half, with Prömel forcing a good save from Maarten Vandevoordt before firing the rebound over the bar.
Leipzig, however, maintained control throughout, and made several changes of their own with Antonio Nusa and Ezechiel Banzuzi entering the fray in the 66th minute. The hosts' dominance was underlined in the 78th minute when substitute Benjamin Henrichs, who had replaced Ridle Baku just two minutes earlier, added a fifth goal, finishing clinically from Nusa's clever pass to complete a comprehensive victory.
Man of the Match: Brajan Gruda
The 20-year-old midfielder was absolutely instrumental in Leipzig's dominant display, contributing directly to three of their five goals. Gruda showed tremendous composure to open the scoring by pouncing on a rebound, before providing a pinpoint cross for Baumgartner's second goal.
He then capped his own brilliant performance with a second goal just before half-time. His goal contributions aside, Gruda was at the heart of Leipzig's attacking play throughout, creating numerous chances and proving to be a constant threat.
His 531 fantasy points underline what was a truly standout performance, as does the fact he won 16 challenges - more than any other player on the pitch - despite being the most pressed player in the match.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Leipzig 2.19 - Hoffenheim 0.43
Fastest player: Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), 34.26 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 3-0 by Christoph Baumgartner (Leipzig), 16 percent
Most pressed player: Brajan Gruda (Leipzig), 26 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Yan Diomande (Leipzig), +2.58
Fantasy Heroes: Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig, 531 Points), Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig, 405 Points), David Raum (RB Leipzig, 257 Points)
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