Borussia Dortmund took on RB Leipzig in the 23rd round of the Bundesliga – a match that finished 2-2 after Leipzig had opened the scoring and gone ahead twice. The result pushed Bayern Munich’s advantage over Dortmund to eight points while Leipzig fell to fifth place, frustrated by a loss that had looked certain.
The game started in a lively fashion, with both sides eager to take the initiative. Early on it was the visitors who had the better chances. A quick counter saw Maximilian Beier cut clear in front of the goal, but Leipzig’s keeper Maarten Vandevoort stopped him from a half‑chop shot.
Leipzig, however, played with more determination. Their left‑wing attack, spearheaded by Diomande, created several problems for the Dortmund defence. In the 20th minute, after a switch of play, Diomande slipped down the left flank and flicked the ball into the five‑metre box. Christoph Baumgartner found space and finished from close range, giving Leipzig a 1-0 lead – a goal that was verified by VAR but stood.
Leipzig remained dominant. Dortmund seemed oddly vulnerable on their right side – something unfamiliar even to their own defenders – and that proved costly. In the 39th minute, a third‑ball from left to centre saw Baumgartner once again find the net, and the score rose to 2-0. That was a well‑merited advantage for Leipzig, who were clearer, more structured and more aggressive in their build‑up than Dortmund.
After the break Leipzig had the upper hand. Dortmund struggled to find the back of the net and were still off‑balance, but around the 50th minute they made a return. A corner from Julian Ryerson ricocheted off the second post, and in a bizarre moment the ball struck Leipzig’s Romulo and ricocheted into the opposite net – a defensive own goal that slashed the deficit to 2-1. The goal was credited to Marcel Sabitzer, even though it gave Dortmund not just a goal but a glimmer of belief.
In an attempt to seize control, Dortmund pushed for a penalty after a tackle on Serhou Guirassy, but the referee did not award one. Manager Niko Kovač reacted at the halfway point of the second half with a triple change, bringing on Julian Brandt and Carney Chukwuemeka to inject fresh attack options.
Still, Leipzig stayed more threatening overall. Diomande repeatedly drove down the middle but lacked decision‑making inside the box. The most decisive moment for the hosts came in the 73rd minute when Ridle Baku, after a solid supply, broke free in front of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and steered the ball past the post – only to be stopped at the line by Ramy Bensebaïni’s incredible save. Dortmund’s defenders were forced to stay on high alert for any such chances.
Shortly thereafter, Fábio Silva replaced the tired Guirassy and tried to add a shooting threat, though chances to level the match remained elusive. Leipzig dominated possession and pressure over large stretches, but they failed to unleash a barrage of opportunities. Dortmund’s final minutes saw a few yellow cards, including one to Waldemar Anton, underscoring the increasingly frantic nature of the game.
Finally, a moment of perseverance paid off. While Leipzig were mentally drifting into their dressing room and playing for time, Fábio Silva seized a chance in the fifth minute of added time and buried the equaliser – a last‑minute 2-2 that lifted Dortmund and left Leipzig to wonder why the game slipped away.
Throughout the match RB Leipzig appeared more mature and focused. The hosts capitalised on Dortmund’s defensive gaps, taking early advantage with two goals from Baumgartner. The return to the game came from a corner goal, but in the end the Black‑Blacks were unable to maintain the offensive pressure or stability that they had shown earlier. A late, fortunate equaliser kept the result level, but the match showed why Dortmund still remain a challenge for Bayern in the title race.
