RB Leipzig secured their first Bundesliga away win of the season on Saturday. Martin Demichelis's side won 2-0 (1-0) at FC Schalke 04, ending the host's unbeaten home run in front of 61,581 spectators at the Arena. This victory on Saturday, 31 October, marked a third consecutive win, solidifying their sixth-place standing with 12 points from seven games.
Antonio Nusa put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot in the 37th minute. Rômulo sealed the victory with a second goal in the 78th minute. Two further goals for Leipzig were disallowed following VAR reviews, including an early own goal by Timo Becker for offside.
The Match
Schalke started brightly, but Leipzig gradually took control. Maarten Vandevoordt had to save from Nusa as early as the 15th minute. The decisive moment came when Satoshi Tanaka handled the ball. Referee Tobias Reichel pointed to the spot, and Nusa converted calmly. "The penalty is soft," said Schalke coach Miron Muslic afterwards.
After the break, Schalke pushed for an equaliser. Loris Karius saved from Brajan Gruda in the 47th minute. Leipzig remained dangerous, however. Following a cross from Nusa, Rômulo headed home to make it 2-0. Edin Dzeko, introduced as a substitute for Schalke in the 68th minute, could not inspire a comeback.
The Reaction
Martin Demichelis was pleased with his team's performance. "A brutal performance with and without the ball," the Leipzig coach said. With this third consecutive win, the team now sits sixth in the standings with 12 points from seven games. Their season tally stands at 20 goals scored and 11 conceded. The gap to the relegation places is safe, while the deficit to leaders Bayern Munich is five points.
Their recent form over the last five matches reads three wins and two losses. Prior to the win in Gelsenkirchen, the team secured a 2-1 away victory at Rot-Weiß Essen on 27 October and beat SV Elversberg 4-0 before that. RB Leipzig's next assignment is at home to FC Augsburg on Saturday, 7 November. The Augsburg side currently sits ninth in the table. The home fixture at the Red Bull Arena is the next step in the fight for European qualification. Current form, with three wins in a row, provides momentum.
More detail at FAZ Sport
Referee Tobias Burda awarded the decisive penalty for RB Leipzig on Saturday. Burda judged a foul by Satoshi Tanaka on Rômulo in the penalty area. The referee explained the incident after the 2-0 win on Sunday. "The decision was correct according to the rules," Burda said. The team now sits in fourth place in the table with the win.
