RB Leipzig earned a narrow 1-0 victory over Stuttgart as they begin a busy January portion of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season. Dani Olmo was the hero for Leipzig as the Spanish international scored in the 67th minute to register the lone goal in the match. This victory will be a welcome result for Leipzig who are embarking on a difficult schedule of fixtures in January.
RB Leipzig off to a Good Start as Difficult January Schedule Begins
RB Leipzig Get the Job Done
The win against Stuttgart could have been a much larger margin of victory as Leipzig struggled to finish their opportunities. They registered a total of 22 shots, nine of which were on target. A saved penalty kick in the first half and a few more top-class saves from Stuttgart goalkeeper Gregor Kobel kept the visitors at bay. However, it was Olmo who would finally provide the breakthrough in the 67th minute.
Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci was also influential in the victory as he made a key save in the final ten minutes to preserve the clean sheet. A two or three-goal margin of victory would have been ideal for Leipzig but they still managed to get the job done in a difficult away fixture in Stuttgart.
Six Games in January – One Down, Five to Go
Leipzig will play a total of six Bundesliga matches during January. They began the month against Stuttgart but will now have to face top five contenders Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg, and Union Berlin in the next three matchdays. After this difficult three-match stretch, they will play Mainz who are fighting to avoid relegation. The January schedule then concludes with a fixture against another top-five contender, Bayer Leverkusen.
With a difficult schedule awaiting Leipzig in the coming weeks, the victory over Stuttgart was a very important three points. It’s likely that Leipzig will not be able to take maximum points from all three of their upcoming matches against Dortmund, Wolfsburg, and Union Berlin. For this reason, starting the month off with a win was a needed result as they look to remain in European places.
RB Leipzig Losing Ground in the Title Race a Possibility
Bayern Munich have a much less demanding schedule when it comes to the clubs they will face in January. Five of the six clubs Bayern will play in January are currently outside of the top seven places in the Bundesliga table. As a result, Bayern will be heavily favoured to continue their winning ways and possibly extend their lead at the top.
Leipzig will need to limit their losses during the month if they hope to remain close to Bayern in the table. Multiple defeats during January could prove to a crucial moment in the title race if Leipzig struggle with the high-quality schedule that awaits them.
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