VfL Wolfsburg 1-0 RB Leipzig (Oct 31, 2023) Game Analysis

VfL Wolfsburg secures a stunning 1-0 victory against RB Leipzig in the German Cup second round, ending Leipzig’s two-year hold on the competition. Vaclav Cerny’s first-half goal proves to be the difference maker.

Leipzig, who were crowned champions in 2022 and 2023 and reached the finals in 2021, find themselves a man down early in the second half as Yussuf Poulsen receives his second booking and is sent off.

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Cerny takes advantage of an excellent through ball from Tiago Tomas, breezes past Leipzig’s defense, and smashes the ball into the top corner in the 14th minute with little opposition.

The Czech winger squanders a golden opportunity to score his second goal just 10 minutes later when a defensive mix-up allows him another clear shot on goal, but he misfires and sends the ball wide.

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Leipzig displays increased aggression in the second half and comes close to scoring when David Raum hits the woodwork.

However, any hopes of a comeback vanish in the 56th minute when Poulsen sees red following a clumsy foul on Aster Jan Vranckx, who intercepts the ball from the Danish player.

In another Bundesliga clash, VfB Stuttgart secures their spot in the third round with a narrow 1-0 victory over Union Berlin, who have now suffered 11 consecutive defeats across all competitions.

Bayern Munich will face Saarbruecken on Wednesday, while Borussia Dortmund hosts Hoffenheim.