Trapp stars as Leipzig and Frankfurt share the spoils
For all of Leipzig's chances they lacked a clinical edge and couldn't get the better of Kevin Trapp who was phenomenal between the posts for Die Adler.
| Kevin Trapp. | Photo: Werner100359, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
The game took an eventful turn inside the first minute and it happened in the stands rather than on the pitch – Frankfurt’s notoriously strong travelling fanbase set off flares which engulfed the Red Bull Arena in black smoke before it slowly dissipated. Action resumed shortly after in what was an intense opening exchange between the sides.
RB talisman Christopher Nkunku showed early glimpses of his talent when he narrowly fired over from an Olmo pass. Die Adler settled well too, and Lindstrom unselfishly attempted to find Kostic on the counter when perhaps taking the shot on himself would have been more rewarding.
Kampl delivered a perfect ball to the towering Silva on 22 minutes and the Portuguese striker almost headed home against his former team, but for some Hinteregger brilliance on the goal line. Nkunku continued to cause havoc for the visitors all over the pitch. After skipping past challenges, he tried to feed Silva but to no avail. Frankfurt could only clear to Simakan who duly unleashed a goal bound rocket which Trapp did brilliantly to divert onto the post. RB were beginning to turn the screw at this point.
Frankfurt seemed content to hold their defensive shape, soak up pressure, and hit on the break, and they did to good effect approaching the 40-minute mark. Once more Lindstrom latched onto a defence splitting ball but tried to tee up Borre which was the wrong option evident by the frustration written on teammate’s faces. Laimer rattled the crossbar in a swift response from RB, although little ensued from the rebound. Nkunku thought he had converted in added time but the goal was quickly ruled offside. Scoreless at the break.
Hrustic replaced Rode in midfield, but it was Tedesco’s reinvigorated Leipzig who started the better of the two after the restart. Dani Olmo had two early chances within minutes of each other to call a busy Trapp into action again. Hinteregger picked up a 5th yellow card after a foul on Nkunku which will suspend the Austrian from the post international break fixture with Furth.
The more defensive minded Kampl made way for Forsberg on the hour mark in a bid to swing things in favour of Die Roten Bullen. Nkunku was central once again in the home side’s offensive charges and he fed Laimer in on goal. The Austrian was sure to score but Trapp’s sublime reactions came to the fore yet again demonstrating the fine vein of form Frankfurt’s German shot stopper is in.
Substitute Hauge had a half chance when he beat Gulacsi to the ball, but his lobbed effort didn’t result in a goal. Poulsen entered the fray for Silva who couldn’t punish his previous club today. Tuta plated up another chance for Nkunku with a poor headed back pass, however the Frenchman’s shot was no threat for Trapp. Nkunku almost turned provider on 84 minutes, but Poulsen attempted to round Trapp and thus overran the ball while the chance faded out. Despite their chances, Leipzig never looked like scoring in a game which they dominated almost throughout.
A highly entertaining scoreless draw, but one Glasner's Frankfurt will be happy about, whereas Leipzig will feel it was two valuable points dropped.