RB Leipzig has successfully secured their place in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal, triumphing over Wolfsburg with a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to Benjamin Sesko's penalty.
The match, held at RB Leipzig's home ground, featured intense back-and-forth action, especially after Leipzig had to withstand some early pressure from Wolfsburg. Despite existing on the back foot for most of the first half, Leipzig managed to hold onto their defense without allowing any goals during this period.
Leipzig struggled with shot accuracy, failing to register any shots on target before halftime, but they turned the tide after the break. The turning point of the match came when Killian Fischer was penalized for handling the ball inside the box. Sesko stepped up to take the penalty, executing it with finesse and sending Wolfsburg’s goalkeeper Marius Muller the wrong way during the 69th minute.
Prior to Leipzig's penalty, the visiting team almost took the lead, with Mohamed Amoura hitting the post just three minutes after the break. This close call underscored the tension of the match as Wolfsburg’s attacking force continued to press for opportunities.
After scoring, Sesko was not satisfied; he forced Muller to make another smart save shortly thereafter, demonstrating his determination to control the match. On the counter, Wolfsburg tried to respond immediately, but Kevin Behrens was thwarted by Leipzig's goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoort, who delivered on point with his performance.
This win is particularly sweet for Leipzig, who were the holders of the DFB-Pokal, winning back-to-back titles in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Last season, they were eliminated from the tournament by Wolfsburg, who defeated them with the same scoreline. “The victory puts us back on track, and we aim to reclaim what we lost last year,” claimed Sesko, who has now netted three goals across three consecutive matches in this knockout competition.
With this victory, RB Leipzig joins Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart, alongside third-tier club Arminia Bielefeld, which also made headlines this week by upsetting Werder Bremen with their 2-1 victory.
Leipzig’s pathway to the semi-finals is marked not only by their victory over Wolfsburg but by their offensive efforts, racking up 16 attempts and achieving 2.46 expected goals (xG), with 0.78 of those stemming from Sesko's penalty. On the flip side, Wolfsburg, though showing promise with five shots on target, concluded with just 0.81 expected goals.
RB Leipzig’s resilience is evident as they advance, determined to add another title to their accolades. The team’s ability to shake off the disappointment from last season’s elimination speaks volumes of their character and ambitions for the current season.