bundesliga

Dani Olmo sparks emphatic RB Leipzig turnaround against VfB Stuttgart

26.08.2023

Dani Olmo, Lois Openda and Xavi Simons were on target as RB Leipzig scored five second-half goals in a blistering comeback against VfB Stuttgart.

RB Leipzig 5-1 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Guirassy 35' (assist: Karazor), 1-1 Henrichs 51', 2-1 Olmo 63' (assist: Simons), 3-1 Openda 66' (assist: Raum), 4-1 Kampl 74', 5-1 Simons (76')

Leipzig shaded the possession and shot count in a competitive first half, but pre-match Bundesliga leaders Stuttgart - 5-0 winners against Bochum on the opening weekend - were the more effective of the two sides. Janis Blaswich was called on just six minutes in to swat away a shot from Chris Führich, with Serhou Guirassy unable to turn in the rebound. Guirassy headed over following another smart bit of play from Führich, before making it a case of third time lucky in the 35th minute. David Raum's risky pass from out the back was picked off by Atakan Karazor, who calmly set up Stuttgart's in-form No.9 for his third goal in two games. Openda, having earlier shot wide from range, had the chance to level, but could not beat Alexander Nübel one-on-one. Karazor did enough to stop Olmo from finding the target from inside the box with Leipzig's only other meaningful opening, with the scoreline at 0-0.

Nübel was heavily involved after the restart. The Bayern Munich loanee reacted brilliantly to push Willi Orban's point-blank header from a Raum free-kick over the crossbar, only to hand Leipzig the equaliser soon after when his attempted clearance cannoned in off the on-rushing Benjamin Henrichs. Leipzig thought they'd taken the lead as Openda swept home after Nübel fumbled a Yussuf Poulsen cross, but a VAR review showed the Beligium international to be offside. Leipzig did forge ahead past the hour when Olmo expertly rolled his marker and shot into the far corner from 18 yards. Openda extended the hosts' lead three minutes later, rising highest at the back post to head home Raum's inch-perfect cross. Stuttgart collapsed thereafter, with Kevin Kampl's deflected strike making it 4-1. Simons added the gloss, the Paris Saint-Germain loanee firing in at the second attempt after his initial effort had been saved. Blaswich and Nübel repelled substitutes Benjamin Sesko and Jamie Leweling respectively in added time as Supercup winners Leipzig delivered the perfect response to their Matchday 1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

Match stats

Openda has two goals in as many Bundesliga appearances.
Olmo, who scored his first home goal since August 2022, has struck five times in three competitive games in 2023/24.
Leipzig have never lost to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga in 11 meetings (W9, D2).
Guirassy leads the Bundesliga scoring charts after two matches (three goals).
Stuttgart took the lead at Leipzig's Red Bull Arena for the first time in six attempts.
Stuttgart lost for only the second time in 11 Bundesliga games under Sebastian Hoeneß.

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Teams

Leipzig: Blaswich - Henrichs, Simakan (Klostermann 85'), Orban (c), Raum - Simons (Werner 78'), Kampl, Schlager, Olmo (Baumgartner 85') - Openda (Forsberg 78'), Poulsen (Sesko 78')
Unused subs: Zingerle, Lukeba, Seiwald, Carvalho
Out: Bitshiabu (knee), Clark (knock) Gulacsi (knee), Haidara (calf)
Coach: Marco Rose

Stuttgart: Nübel - Stenzel (Massimo 70'), Anton (c), Zagadou, Ito - Egloff (Haraguchi 70'), Karazor - Silas (Sosa 58'), Jeong (Leweling 90'+1) , Führich (Mittelstädt 90'+1) - Guirassy
Unused subs: Bredlow, Stergiou, Millot, Milosevic
Out: Kastanaras (foot), Nartey (knee), Undav (knee), Vagnoman (foot)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß