TIMO’S FAR ‘Kop target’ Werner fails to impress Klopp
Werner’s RB Leipzig failed to crank up the pressure on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich when German football was relaunched yesterday.
Despite having 21 efforts on goal, Julian Nagelsmann’s side needed a second-half equaliser from skipper Yussuf Poulsen to rescue a point.
Leipzig trail Bayern by four points ahead of the champions’ trip to Union Berlin this afternoon – and it seems that only Borussia Dortmund can prevent the Bavarian giants taking the title for an eighth successive season.
Werner, 24, showed some classy touches as speculation continues to grow that Jurgen Klopp will pay £52million to take the kebab-loving striker to Anfield.
But he seems to have forgotten where the back of the net is. Even before lockdown, Werner had gone three games without adding to his tally of 27 goals for the season.
He had one shot from distance smartly saved by Freiburg keeper Alexander Schwolow after racing half the length of the pitch with an impressive burst of speed.
And Schwolow denied him again, this time with his legs, just before Poulsen’s leveller.
At least the home side didn’t get booed off at the final whistle.
Leipzig’s old Zentralstadion used to host crowds in excess of 100,000, but there were only a couple of hundred players, officials and media personnel inside the redeveloped stadium.
Substitutes – wearing protective masks – practised social distancing on the bench. But old habits die hard. Players from both sides continued to spit – and when Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku committed an early foul, his initial reaction was to offer a handshake of apology.
Premier League bosses will have taken note as they plot a resumption of the season in England to give Liverpool the chance to clinch the title they deserve.
The home side spent most of the afternoon camped in Freiburg’s half.
After 34 minutes they were also chasing the game. Konrad Laimer, Nkunku, Werner and Kevin Kampl all threatened for Leipzig. Then, against the run of play, Vincenzo Grifo’s corner found Manuel Gulde arriving at the near post and the centre-back conjured up a clever finish with his heel. It was his first goal of this extended season – but the only celebration was a flurry of elbow bumps. Nagelsmann (left) sent on former Everton winger Ademola Lookman at the interval. And he ended the game with four forwards on the pitch as his desperation grew. Lookman missed one glorious chance when he side-footed wide from five yards. His next effort saw him flatten the only person stationed behind Schwolow’s goal – an unsuspecting cameraman, who took a nasty blow to the side of his head.
But just as it seemed Leipzig’s seven-match unbeaten run was about to end, Poulsen rose at the far post to meet Kampl’s cross with an emphatic header.
With 13 minutes left, it seemed the team that had ambushed Tottenham in the Champions League would claim all three points.
But substitute Patrik Schick failed to get a touch on to a tantalising cross by on-loan Manchester City wing-back Angelino.
Freiburg had scored twice in injury time to beat Leipzig earlier in the season.
And they thought they had mugged them again when Robin Koch nudged home substitute Lucas Holer’s knockdown.
The home side were spared when replays proved Holer was a fraction offside.
Football is back – and so is VAR.