RB Leipzig loses to Juventus despite being outnumbered

RB Leipzig lose again in the Champions League despite taking the lead. This time, even a two-goal lead and a superior number of players were not enough for the first victory. After the bitter last-minute defeat at Atlético Madrid, the Bundesliga club lost 2:3 (1:0) to Italian record champions Juventus Turin in the second preliminary round match of the Champions League. Benjamin Sesko (30th minute/65th/manual penalty) gave Leipzig the lead twice in front of 45,228 spectators in the sold-out Red Bull Arena. Dusan Vlahovic (50th/65th) equalized twice for the visitors before substitute Francisco Conceicao (83rd) scored the winner. Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio (58) was shown the red card for a handball outside the penalty area after video evidence.

Juve forced to make early changes

In the clash between the best Italian defense in Serie A with zero goals conceded and the currently best German defense with two goals conceded, both teams started with a lot of tactical banter in their first meeting. After an innocuous Juve attack, RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi played a long ball to Lois Openda, who beat Juve captain Bremer with a rule-compliant upper body check and then tried to pass into the middle. Pierre Kalulu almost straddled the ball into his own goal. Bremer had to leave the pitch injured after the incident and was replaced by Federico Gatti (6'). Just six minutes later, Nico Gonzalez was forced off through injury, replaced by Francisco Conceicao.

After a save by Gulacsi from a 25-meter shot by Teun Koopmeiners, the keeper made the game quick again. Openda played a dream pass in the center into the path of Sesko, who slammed the ball under the crossbar from full stretch. It was his fifth goal of the season. It was only the second goal of the season for Torino, who have yet to concede in Serie A, after conceding the first in the 3-1 opening win against PSV Eindhoven.

No penalty for Juve star Valhovic

Juve appealed for a penalty after contact with star striker Vlahovic (37'). However, referee Francois Letexier (France), who had also refereed the European Championship final this summer, allowed play to continue after a brief VAR check. A subsequent shot by Nicolo Fagioli (44) went just wide. The technically adept Italians had a little more of the play towards the end of the first half and tried more with shots from the second row like Conceicao (45.+3).

After the restart, Rose made some tactical changes, bringing on all-rounder Benjamin Henrichs for the defensive midfield and bringing Haidara on for Baumgartner in attack. Juve then had the first big chance with Koopmeiners (48'), who had a free shot in the penalty area but only hit the post. Vlahovic (50) then did better, tapping the ball into the goal at full stretch at the near post to make it 1:1. At the other end, Openda (53) hit the post with a flick.

Another VAR decision

The VAR then had to intervene again. The Juve goalkeeper used his hand to help Openda outside the penalty area. The keeper was shown a red card (58'). When Xavi Simons' free-kick followed, Douglas Luiz, who had just come on as a substitute, raised his hand with his first touch - penalty. Sesko converted safely to take the lead (65'). Vlahovic equalized again with a shot into the corner. Substitute Nusa (79) had the winning goal on his feet, but a Juve player intervened. Substitute Conceicao then caught Leipzig off guard with the goal to make it 3-2.