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METERAtchwinner Alexander Sörloth enjoyed the cheers and hugs from his teammates, coach Julian Nagelsmann crossed the pitch smiling in relief. Thanks to the premiere of the Norwegian goal in the 93rd minute, RB Leipzig can continue to look forward to the last 16 of the Champions League after the thrilling 4: 3 (2: 1) at Istanbul Basaksehir. With a win against Manchester United next Tuesday, the Saxons are definitely in the knockout round. “Now we have our final against Manchester, which we absolutely wanted to achieve,” Nagelsmann said after the seven-goal duel on Wednesday night.
Previously, he had seen “a crazy game”, as he admitted on the DAZN streaming service. “We were very good in the first half. We have to develop a certain killer gene, ”he said. “If you want to be a superior team, you have to decide a game like this before.”
Yussuf Poulsen (26th minute) and Nordi Mukiele (43rd) deservedly led the dominant Saxons to the lead. Basaksehir cut shortly before the break through Irfan Can Kahveci (45º + 3) after a set piece. “We became more inactive in the second half, Basaksehir pushed more,” Nagelsmann said. “Now we have been marching like crazy for 93 minutes again. That is up to us at some point. Not now over the weekend, but at some point it will be difficult. “
In an urgent phase for the Turks, Dani Olmo (66th) increased, before Kahveci scored again at 73 only to connect and at 85 to tie. Then came the appearance of Sörloth. “Of course I am happy with my first goal. It’s always important, ”he said. “It almost had to happen in Istanbul. I already had a good feeling when I entered the field ”. Nagelsmann hopes that “the knot will break.”
Leadership is the product of chance
Between the two premier class highlights, Leipzig will have to compete at Bayern Munich on Saturday. Three days before the Bundesliga summit, Nagelsmann sent his strongest team onto the Fatih Terim Stadium field. Poulsen, Forsberg, Dayot Upamecano and captain Marcel Sabitzer returned to the starting eleven. Christopher Nkunku would certainly have made it there, but the Frenchman who was still successful in the first leg was lost for private reasons.
“Our job here is to really push,” Nagelsmann said shortly before kickoff. And his players obeyed. Forsberg (3rd) should have scored with his attempt from eleven meters, but he passed by. A minute later, Istanbul goalkeeper Mert Günok stood out with a header from Mukiele. Poulsen’s volley (12th) also deactivated Günok.
Collective joy: RB Leipzig in Istanbul
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Image: AFP
After other missed opportunities, the Leipzig tour was a coincidence. Sabitzer’s shot from a good 20 meters oscillated between Istanbul defensive chief Martin Skrtel and Poulsen, eventually crashing unsustainably into the Danish international’s goal. Leipzig continued to dominate the game with plenty of possession and an aggressive counterattack, but little by little the Turkish offense got under way. Former Hoffenheim Demba Ba (37th) forced RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi into a brilliant act with a shot from an acute angle.
RB broke this rhythm with the second goal. Forsberg put the ball into the penalty area, Mukiele deliberately pushed against the goalkeeper’s direction. Leipzig ruined the strong halftime with a dream insertion in injury time. After a corner kick, Kahveci was completely free on the edge of the area and scored to connect.
Nagelsmann reacted during the break and brought in Tyler Adams for Kevin Kampl a more defensive player. First, however, he scored the next setback. Upamecano (53.) was booked for a foul and foul against Manchester. RB became increasingly passive, only responding with Forsberg’s maximum chance (61st) when the playmaker fired beyond five meters.
Olmo did better after all. After Angeliño’s pass, the Spanish international danced to his rival in the penalty area and executed with a strong shot in the short corner. Istanbul did not give up, and again Kahveci was given too much space. Gulacsi had no chance with his flick from 18 meters.
Poulsen (79th) finally had the fourth goal with his foot, but only hit the post. Then Kahveci seemed to destroy all of RB’s hopes with his third goal from a free kick. In the 90th minute, Leipzig was unlucky when the ball hit Sörloth’s head against the crossbar. A little later he did better.
