Nagelsmann, Orban, and Klostermann set records, Kampl set to miss out against Bayern
Friday evening brought success and records for title-chasers RB Leipzig. Center-backs Willi Orban and Lukas Klostermann together recorded the most passes of any players in the Bundesliga this season. Additionally, the three points made Julian Naglesmann the young club's most successful coach.
After the game, however, attention immediately turned to the next round's showdown with title-holders FC Bayern München. The German Red Bulls will have to do without midfield linchpin Kevin Kampl after the Slovene earned his fifth yellow card of the campaign.
With opponents Arminia Bielefeld parking themselves deep in their own half, Saxon center-halves Willi Orban and Lukas Klostermann recorded more passes (310) than the entire DSC in Friday night's 1-0 victory. Both Klostermann (146 passes) and Orban (164 passes) beat the season-high number of passes played (137) set by Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen. More impressively, both players topped a 95 percent completion rate.
After the game, however, attention immediately turned to the next round's showdown with title-holders FC Bayern München. The German Red Bulls will have to do without midfield linchpin Kevin Kampl after the Slovene earned his fifth yellow card of the campaign.
The three points attainted at the old Bielefelder Alm also gave Julian Nagelsmann 123 points as Leipzig's gaffer. This enabled him to eclipse Ralph Hassenhüttl as the club's most successful top-tier trainer. Ralf Rangnick remains the team's most successful overall.
Leipzig keep pace with league-leaders Bayern following the well-deserved win. As a showdown with the German giants looms after the international break however, Leipzig can't help but feel that Kevin Kampl would have been most useful. The 30-year-old midfielder earned his fifth booking of the season in the 87th minute.
"I didn't have the feeling the whole time that Kevin was in danger of getting a yellow card," Nagelsmann said afterwards, "It aggravates me that he got it. He didn't have to come in late there."
Nagelsmann made clear that he still expected Kampl to contribute when the time comes to face Bayern in what will likely be a do-or-die encounter.
"Of course we would have preferred him against Bayern, but that's the way it goes in football sometimes," he added, "I'm sorry for him because he was committed and played a very good game. Kevin can still be an important presence in the dressing room. He'll just have to interpret his role differently."