“RB Leipzig’s crucial 1-0 win against Hoffenheim raises questions ahead of DFB Cup semifinals against Freiburg”

Leipzig. The Leipzig 1-0 win against Hoffenheim? Yes, highly important. Yes, well deserved. Yes, also raising questions. For example, the longing for consistently stable 90 minutes. After a gripping first half, Marco Rose’s men lost their inspiration and what was imperative. Is enough without the suspended Amadou Haidara and Dominik Szoboszlai against a compliant-faulty TSG, which only once dangerously (very dangerously) shoots on goal and remains in the relegation battle. RB Leipzig (fifth place/54 points) is still in the running for the four Champions League places, jostling for the exhaust from Freiburg (fourth/56) and Union Berlin (third/56).

The achievement of the success against Hoffenheim certainly provides relevant information about the DFB Cup semifinals on Tuesday in Freiburg (8.45 p.m.). When RB Leipzig play in Breisgau, like for long stretches of the first round in the Red Bull Arena, something happens in the Black Forest, home of Jogi Löw. Konrad Laimer, Emil Forsberg and Co. always benefit from blatant TSG dropouts in the game from the defense, use only one of the invitations, stagger into half-time with a 4-1 disguised as a 1-0. Knowing that nothing can actually burn today.

If those who know and are slacking off go to work like after the change, it won’t do anything with “Berlin, Berlin, we’re driving…” The majority of the RB attacking moves take about the time it takes to start again to carve, pickle and sell a Black Forest cuckoo clock. The protagonists don’t wobble around afterwards, walk on the path of self-knowledge – and mortification. Yes, the first 45 minutes were “good” (Willi Orban) to “very good” (Rose, Kevin Kampl), the sluggish second 45 left RB with “hanging and choking” (Max Eberl) within reach of the Königsberger Klöpsen.

Eye-catcher at RB Leipzig? There was. A hand full.

First: Oui, Monsieur Christopher Nkunku, 25, is doing Nkunku things again after a forever abstinence from the starting eleven, has remained a very close friend of the ball and, after brilliant preliminary work by Emil Forsberg, slides in in the 28th minute to finally understand a threesome.

Secondly: Timo Werner, 27, known to be one of the fastest strikers in the world, cannot get past the linesman, who is weighted down with a flag and headset (and cleverly using his body) in the 22nd minute of the sprint. Christian Gittelmann is 40, was born in Kirchheimbolanden and works as a consultant at the DFB Foundation Egidius Braun.

Third: In the 38th minute, TSG striker Ihlas Bebou shot from six yards out and failed to make it 1-1 against goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, who had been beaten so badly. A scene for every annual review.

Fourth: André Silva, 27, known to be a man of the final act and not a sprinter, wins a running duel against two Hoffenheim players in the 74th minute and nails the ball to the crossbar.

Fifth: After the final whistle, Marco Rose supports himself with his hands on his knees, breathes in deeply, breathes out deeply. Then he tightens up again and explains to God and the football world how exhausting the coaching job is on days like these and in phases like these and that 1-0 gives a boost before the two trips to Freiburg. It takes a lot of push, strength and conviction. On Tuesday in the DFB Cup. On Saturday in the Bundesliga.

On Monday, the lawn ballers will fly towards Breisgau (Lahr Airport) around 6 p.m. The night will be spent in the Hotel Stadt Freiburg, and the game will be played in the sold-out Europa Park Stadium. SC Freiburg is a force there and can make ends meet financially even without the scarves offered for sale.

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By the way, and just for the sake of completeness: Christopher Nkunku scored his 13th goal of the season against Hoffenheim on Saturday. The virtuoso and soon-to-be-Londoner shot his twelfth on November 9, 2022. In the 3-1 win against, yes, SC Freiburg.