By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

VfB Stuttgart discovered that their time at the top of the Bundesliga table would be incredibly short-lived in Leipzig on Friday night. Despite a strong first-half and a surprise lead from Sebastian Hoeneß’ VfB, a miscue at the back between Alexander Nübel and Dan-Axel Zagadou led to a Leipzig equalizer shortly after the restart. The visiting BaWü club then proceeded to fall apart against Marco Rose’s German Red Bulls. RB now top the table after a 5-1 rout.

RB trainer Rose made two changes to the XI that dropped their opening day fixture against Leverkusen. The form slump that has seen German striker Timo Werner go without a goal since April saw the Stuttgart-native forfeit his starting place against his hometown club. Yussuf Poulsen came in to take Werner’s place in Rose’s regular 4-2-2-2. Rose also opted for more experience in midfield, giving Kevin Kampl the nod over young Nicolas Seiwald alongside Xaver Schlager in midfield.

VfB trainer Hoeneß had to make one enforced change to the 4-2-3-1 that rolled over Bochum 5-0 last weekend. The forward midfielder in his midfield double-six stagger – Enzo Millot – had to remain on the sidelines with calf problems. Lilian Egloff came on for his fellow youngster whilst the team maintained the same shape. Stuttgart, entering the weekend as league leaders, sought to beat Leipzig at home in the league for the first time in five tries.

The Swabian guests certainly proved the more active side during the first half. Stuttgart controlled most of the tempo of the game in midfield, though they were only able to make slight offensive pinpricks. After a 7th-minute double-chance involving Chris Führich and Serhou Guirassy, there were no further incursions from the guests until Grassy opened the scoring in the 35th. Atakan Karazor took advantage of a poor pass out of the back from RB defender David Raum and sent Guirassy through. The Frenchman finished with a flourish.

Stuttgart maintained the lead after the first half and appeared to have the hosts rattled. Rose was booked for arguing a refereeing decision before it was time to head into the tunnel. Matters looked positive after the restart as well, with VfB keeper Nübel making an incredibly strong save on Raum in the 47th. Unfortunately for Nübel, the equalizer would come when he attempted to clear a ball without catching an onrushing Benjamin Henrichs rushing towards him in the 51st. Henrichs bungled home the 1-1.

A clearly distracted Nübel conceded another goal two minutes later; one disallowed due to an offside position of RB striker Loïs Openda. Dani Olmo did score a goal that would count in 63rd. The Spaniard supplied a lovely finish on the turn after Xavi Simons played him into the box. The rout would soon be on. Openda headed home a Raum cross for the 3-1 in the 66th. A deflected Kampl effort left Nübel with no chance on the 4-1 in the 74th.

Xavi Simons scored his first goal for his new club when Nübel couldn’t clamp him down properly in the 76th. The much-discussed German keeper did make a strong save on Benjamin Sesko to prevent the 6-1 deep into second half injury time.

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