RB Leipzig’s aspirations for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga suffered another setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Augsburg, extending their unconvincing form in 2024 with just one win from five matches.Marco Rose’s side has struggled on the road recently, managing only one victory in their last five away league matches. The challenging playing surface posed early difficulties for Leipzig, as Augsburg expertly contained them in the opening 15 minutes. Despite Leipzig’s efforts, the Bavarian club’s goalkeeper Finn Dahmen made a spectacular save to deny Dani Olmo’s header.
Augsburg gradually gained control by the half-hour mark and took the lead in impressive fashion. After Peter Gulacsi parried Ruben Vargas’ shot, Philipp Tietz pounced on the rebound, elegantly volleying it into the bottom corner to delight the home fans. However, Leipzig responded swiftly with a clinical counterattack, as David Raum’s precise cross was met by Lois Openda’s header, levelling the score before halftime.
Leipzig seized momentum early in the second half and completed the turnaround with a similar goal, this time Benjamin Sesko heading in Olmo’s cross. Despite Augsburg’s efforts to equalize, Dahmen’s excellent save denied Xavi Simons. However, the hosts found the equalizer through Ermedin Demirovic’s superb strike from outside the box.
A pivotal moment came when Dahmen’s misjudgment led to a penalty after fouling Mohamed Simakan in the box. Despite conceding the penalty, Dahmen redeemed himself by saving Openda’s spot-kick, ensuring Augsburg remained level until the final whistle.
The draw secured Augsburg an eight-point cushion above the relegation zone, despite their run of just one win in eight league games. Meanwhile, Leipzig’s failure to secure three points further hindered their pursuit of a UEFA Champions League spot, as they fell behind Borussia Dortmund in the standings.BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 21FridayBorussia Dortmund – Freiburg 3-0 (2-0)/Malen 16, 45+7, Fullgrug 87/SaturdayAugsburg – RB Leipzig 2-2 (1-1)/Tietz 35, Demirovic 60 – Openda 39, Sesko 52/Eintracht Frankfurt – Bochum 1-1 (1-1)/Marmoush 14 – Broschinski 17/Union Berlin – Wolfsburg in progressWerder – Heidenheim 1-2 (1-2)/Schmid 19 – Maloney 12, Beste 18/20:30: (2.80) Leverkusen (3.60) Bayern (2.60)Sunday17:30: (1.45) Stuttgart (4.40) Mainz (7.25)19:30: (1.90) Hoffenheim (3.70) Koln (4.40)***odds are subject to change***