Sesko and Simons work their magic: Leipzig win while short-handed

Not a liberating blow, but an important step out of the crisis: led by the magical duo of Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig defeated FC St. Pauli 2-0 (2-0) and consolidated fourth place in the Bundesliga. The Saxons thus celebrated a win after four games and for the first time since the start of the year against Werder Bremen. For St. Pauli, it was their first defeat after three unbeaten games.

Sesko (16th minute) put Leipzig ahead with his ninth goal of the season. Xavi Simons (35) increased the lead in front of 46,021 spectators after an assist from the Slovenian international. In the 69th minute, Leipzig defender Willi Orban was shown the red card after an emergency brake.

Leipzig rebuild with victim Openda

Neither the results nor the style of play have been right at RB recently. Coach Marco Rose made changes accordingly, changing the starting eleven in five positions compared to the 0-0 draw at Union Berlin. The most prominent victim: Loïs Openda. Leipzig's most prolific scorer last season with 24 goals, he is currently suffering from an acute lack of goals.

Sesko started on his own, with Rose deploying Ridle Baku on the right flank as a counterpart to David Raum. That was nothing new in itself, but this time it succeeded in taking the left-wing bias out of Leipzig's play. However, St. Pauli initially came very close to taking the lead. Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi (3rd) could only deflect a free-kick from Eric Smith forward, but Hamburg captain Jackson Irvine only hit a Leipzig defender instead of the empty goal.

Sesko showed how easy it is. Simons sent the attacker into the penalty area, where David Nemeth went down next to Sesko completely unnecessarily - and the 21-year-old slid the ball into the far corner unchallenged. Leipzig did not create many chances, but then made the most of them. Sesko combined with Baku on the right-hand side and then put the ball into the back of the Hamburg defense in the penalty area. Simons was all alone there and scored for the third time this year.

Latte, Gulacsi and the denied goal

St. Pauli made it too easy for Leipzig to score, but did not lose faith. In stoppage time of the first half, Noah Weißhaupt (45.+1) had a great opportunity to tie the scores when he volleyed home after a long throw-in following a mix-up. The ball smacked against the crossbar, from there against Gulacsi's back - and trickled out of play.

Leipzig recovered quickly from the shock and continued to play a varied game. Sometimes with long balls to Sesko, sometimes Simons and Antonio Nusa combined through the center. St. Pauli had their chances, but initially remained too hasty, as was the case with substitute Elias Saad's finish (61').

Saad was in the spotlight again a few minutes later. The striker was through in the middle after RB lost possession and was alone on his way to Gulacsi, but captain Orban stopped the 25-year-old with an emergency stop just outside the penalty area. Rose reacted after the sending-off, taking off Sesko, the prudent Kevin Kampl and Nusa and bringing on Openda, among others.

In the final minutes, RB keeper Gulacsi still had to stretch himself to prevent Johannes Eggestein from scoring the visitors' final goal with a header. At the other end, Openda and Baumgartner missed opportunities to score a third goal for Leipzig shortly afterwards.