RB Leipzig's prospects of progressing in the Champions League are getting worse and worse. The Saxons suffered their fourth defeat in four games with a 3-1 (1-2) loss at Celtic Glasgow, leaving the Bundesliga runners-up without a point in the top flight. After taking the lead through Christoph Baumgartner (23rd minute), it was former Leipzig youngster Nicolas Kühn (35th/45th +1) who turned the game around. Reo Hatate (72') increased the lead for the Scots.
In "Paradise", as Celtic Park is known, RB started with El Chadaille Bitshiabu in central defense after a minute's silence by the teams for the flood victims in Valencia. "The left side is a bit limp, we really wanted a left-footer with Chad," coach Marco Rose told the streaming service DAZN before kick-off. Kevin Kampl was preferred to Arthur Vermeeren in defensive midfield. Celtic coach Brendan Rogers made just one change to his familiar 4-3-3 system, bringing on Greg Taylor for Alex Valle at left-back.
RB with problems at the start
RB had major problems with the high pressing of the Glasgow attackers in the opening quarter of an hour. It was only after this that the Saxons began to gain more confidence in their play. Loïs Openda forced Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel into a brilliant save for the first time (22'). After a corner from Kevin Kampl, the lead followed: Cameron Carter-Vickers unintentionally extended the ball to the second post, where Baumgartner headed in against Schmeichel's direction. Antonio Nusa could have added to his tally from close range, but he fired the ball to the left of the goal (31').
Leipzig suddenly had the game under control, but then Kühn set off on a solo run. Bitshiabu ran with him, but was unable to prevent the shot into the goal. Rock legend and Glasgow fan Rod Stewart cheered in the stands. Kühn, who had trained at RB from 2015 to 2018, finally turned the game around before the break. After a feed from Hatate, which Taylor redirected on, the 24-year-old pushed the ball into the goal from five meters.
Leipzig lack ideas
The Bhoys dominated the game after the restart. Leipzig looked frustrated and lacked ideas. Rose had expressly warned of this. "It's a pressure situation that we have to face. We have to implement the things we've discussed with the ball," said the coach. RB at least showed signs of life with a 20-meter shot from Benjamin Sesko, but Schmeichel reacted well on his 38th birthday (64').
Celtic played the best defense in the Bundesliga dizzy until the final phase. When Peter Gulacsi let the ball bounce off Alistair Johnston, Hatate dusted it off to make it 3:1. The game was decided.
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