RB Leipzig 2-1 Zenit Saint Petersburg: Marcel Sabitzer scores impressive winner as RB Leipzig come from behind
- Marcel Sabitzer scored the winner as RB Leipzig beat Zenit Saint Petersburg 2-1
- Yaroslav Rakitskiy scored from distance for Zenit before Konrad Laimer levelled
- Sabitzer then found the net in the 59th minute with an excellently-hit effort
- RB Leipzig have taken six points from first three games, while Zenit have four
RB Leipzig came from behind to end a four-game winless streak and boost their chances of Champions League progress with a 2-1 win over Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
Marcel Sabitzer scored one goal and set up another for the German side to move top of Group G with six points from three games, though Lyon had a chance to reclaim the lead when it played at Benfica later.
Leipzig, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Lyon, hadn’t won a game since a 3-0 Bundesliga win at Werder Bremen on September 21.
Marcel Sabitzer is delighted after his excellent goal put RB Leizpig 2-1 up on Wednesday night
Sabitzer scored with a superb strike as RB Leipzig came from behind to take all three points
Konrad Laimer celebrates after equalising for RB Leipzig against Zenit Saint Petersburg
Ukrainian defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy opened the scoring for Zenit in the 25th minute, controlling the ball on his chest outside the penalty area after Leipzig failed to clear, then letting fly with his left boot inside the right post.
Leipzig dominated possession in the first half but Timo Werner, Lukas Klostermann and Konrad Laimer missed the few good opportunities the home side created.
Laimer showed impressive composure to find the net in the early stages of the second half
Yaroslav Rakitskiy celebrates his goal, which put Zenit Saint Petersburg in the ascendancy
Rakitskiy managed to find the back of the net from 25 yards out with an excellent strike
The Zenit players celebrate after Rakitskiy’s impressive effort fired them into the lead
RB Leipzig’s Nordi Mukiele tries to retain possession under pressure from Sebastian Driussi
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann reacted by taking off Werner at the break for Matheus Cunha, and the Brazilian almost scored with an overhead kick that went just wide in the 49th.
But Laimer equalized straight afterward, shooting inside the far corner after Sabitzer played him through.
Sabitzer then scored a sublime goal to complete the comeback in the 59th, stopping the ball on his chest and unleashing a curling shot into the far top corner.
Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig battles for the ball with Sardar Azmoun of Zenit
RB Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer challenges Zenit’s Driussi for the ball during the first half