Max Eberl was happy in the stands, Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg smirked on the pitch: During a spontaneous visit from the new head of sport at RB Leipzig, the two attacking stars ensured a late but enormously important Champions League victory.
Thanks to the 2-0 (0-0) win over the Scottish football champions, the cup winners once again have the best prospects of reaching the round of 16 of the Champions League. “It was a lot of fun, we’re happy about the win,” said Werner, who was impressed by the atmosphere in Celtic Park: “I’ve rarely experienced such a good atmosphere and euphoria.”
In front of 60,000 spectators in the “Paradise” stadium, including Celtics noble fan and rock icon Rod Stewart, Leipzig remained harmless offensively for a long time before Werner, who had been acting unluckily up to then, headed in (75th) and replaced Forsberg (84th) on the spot were and silenced the euphoric home fans. After the 3-1 win in the first leg, the Saxons also won the second duel with Celtic.
Leipzig in the table now ahead of Shakhtar
In the fight for second place, everything now boils down to a decision between Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk. In the parallel game against Real Madrid, the Ukrainians conceded a 1-1 equalizer from German international Antonio Rüdiger in the fifth minute of injury time and fell behind RB in the table. “It will be a kind of final against Donetsk in Warsaw,” said Werner. “We have everything in our own hands.”
Eberl had traveled to Scotland at short notice and individually. The 49-year-old, who only officially takes up his post as the new sporting director on December 15, watched a game at his new club live on site for the first time since his move was announced. The former manager of Borussia Mönchengladbach sat in the first row of the VIP stand right next to managing director Oliver Mintzlaff. Pictures of Eberl having a cigarette break in front of the team hotel had already been circulating on the Internet during the day.
Just one change compared to the first leg win
Compared to the 3-1 win in the first leg a week ago, Rose only made one change to the starting line-up: Instead of Kevin Kampl, Amadou Haidara played in central midfield. The storm trio André Silva, Werner and Christopher Nkunku were allowed to whirl up front again – but the home side had the first chance in the first minute through a header from Daizen Maeda.
After that, Leipzig acted more concentrated, they let the ball run long and pleasantly in their own ranks – but it wasn’t dangerous for a long time. The Scottish champions defended skillfully and compactly, there were hardly any spaces for RB. And when Werner pushed into the penalty area with speed and space, the national player shot the goal far too hastily, allowing the cautious German central defender Moritz Jenz to clear for Glasgow (21′).
RB with double aluminum luck
It almost took revenge: In the 27th minute, only a double stroke of aluminum prevented the deficit when Matt O’Riley first hit the post and Greg Taylor then hit the crossbar. Celtic played more straightforward and purposeful than RB. It was significant that the guests’ best chance in the first half came in the 45th minute and only after a one-off action by Nkunku.
After the change of sides, a more open exchange of blows developed. Werner, Nkunku and Silva traveled a lot, so they often found themselves in dangerous areas. The reward was Werner making it 1-0 after a cross from Silva. Celtic pushed for the equalizer – but quickly conceded the 0:2.
