Leipzig, second in the Bundesliga, temporarily moved one point closer to leaders Bayern, winning Friday 1-0 at Bielefeld in the early game of Matchday 26.
This result puts pressure on the “Rekordmeister”, who must imperatively win Saturday at home against Stuttgart (3.30pm) if he wants to keep a wild card (four points ahead) before his crucial trip to Leipzig on the next day. April 3 (four days before his trip to Paris in the Champions League).
Faced with Bielefeld, the RB evolved without the boss of his defense, the French international Dayot Upamecano, victim of a muscle problem that will make him miss the gathering of the France team next week.
His absence was hardly detrimental, as the rearguard of Red Bull spent a quiet evening. The game looked like an attack / defense exercise for Leipzig (75% possession, 8 shots on target against zero), in an attempt to destabilize the fortress built in front of its goal by Bielefeld, a team fighting for maintenance.
Emil Forsberg (13th) and Dani Olmo (27th) first forced goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to two class parades, but the best opportunity in the first 45 minutes was for Frenchman Christopher Nkunku, whose very powerful strike from an angle closed was diverted on the bar by Ortega (43rd).
The RB was rewarded for his patience after returning from the locker room, with a goal from Marcel Sabitzer, demarcated at six meters to regain a cross from Olmo (1-0, 46th). The second half looked like the first, but the score stuck.
Leipzig will have its eyes on Munich on Saturday, where the Bavarians will recover against Stuttgart their goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had bypassed the Champions League on Wednesday (2-1 victory against Lazio) because of a cold.
Joshua Kimmich, the boss of the midfielder, is however uncertain. Kingsley Coman, spared Rome for muscle pain, has returned to training as normal and will be at the disposal of coach Hansi Flick.