RB Leipzig ended their four-game winless run in the Bundesliga with a crucial 2-0 home victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, strengthening their push for a top-four finish.
The victory lifted Leipzig to fifth place on 42 points after 26 matches, drawing them level with fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who are set to face VfL Bochum on Sunday.
A top-four finish would secure Leipzig a Champions League spot for next season.
Leipzig started with high intensity, creating several early opportunities. Loïs Openda struck the crossbar from close range, while Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel produced key saves to deny Xavi Simons and David Raum.
However, Dortmund failed to capitalize on those warnings, and Leipzig took the lead in the 18th minute. Simons reacted quickest to a rebound after Kobel had initially saved Raum’s effort, smashing the ball home to put the hosts ahead.
Dortmund came close to equalizing just before halftime when Karim Adeyemi latched onto a lofted pass and fired a low shot toward the bottom corner. But Leipzig’s goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi made a stunning save to preserve the lead.
Shortly after the break, Leipzig doubled their advantage. Openda, left unmarked at the far post during a corner, demonstrated superb technique to volley in Simons’ delivery in the 48th minute.
Despite Dortmund’s efforts to respond, they were consistently thwarted by Gulácsi, who made several crucial stops.
His best moment came in the 63rd minute when he rushed off his line to deny Serhou Guirassy, who had been played through by Adeyemi, preventing what would have been Guirassy’s 15th Bundesliga goal of the season.
Dortmund’s struggles in the league continued as they slumped to 11th place following their 11th defeat of the campaign.
Reflecting on their dwindling European qualification hopes, defender Nico Schlotterbeck admitted to Sky Sports: “It’s difficult. It’s almost impossible.
The chances are very slim right now. We’ll try our best, of course. After the international break, we have to attack somehow.”
The loss marked a stark contrast to Dortmund’s midweek Champions League triumph over Lille, where they secured a quarterfinal spot with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Adding to their woes, midfielder Marcel Sabitzer limped off in the second half with a suspected knee injury, compounding Dortmund’s frustrations.
