Match Report
2-2 from 0-2 down – BVB leave Leipzig with a point
Personnel matters
Head coach Niko Kovac was still without four centre-backs: Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle and Filippo Mane. He made one change to the starting line-up that had won 2-0 against Atalanta four days earlier, with Marcel Sabitzer replacing Julian Brandt, who dropped to the bench.
The match
Leipzig created several dangerous chances through David Raum's pinpoint crosses between the six-yard box and the penalty spot. Romulo got on the end of one such cross in the eighth minute, but Kobel was alert to the danger. Kobel then immediately set up a huge chance for Maximilian Beier, who ran a long way before placing his shot too close to Maarten Vandevoordt, allowing the goalkeeper to keep it out and prevent Borussia taking the lead. This was followed by a fairly dominant, controlled period for Borussia, who were very effective in their counter-pressing but couldn't quite close down the right side of their defence. In the 20th minute, Diomande sent a sharp cross into the box and Christoph Baumgartner tapped it in from close range to make it 1-0..
After the goal, Dortmund were plagued by errors and were hardly able to get anything going up front. In transition, the hosts continued to expose gaps, primarily on Dortmund's right side of defence. Leipzig's attacks always followed the same pattern, and in the 39th minute, it was Baumgartner again who converted a cross, this time from Raum, to score the second goal..
Five minutes after the restart, BVB pulled one back. Julian Ryerson's corner flew over Ramy Bensebaini and Willi Orban before finding Romulo, who scored an own goal (50). Leipzig had already squandered a lead six times this season and they looked shaken and sat deep, but they did not find themselves in trouble. After an hour, Niko Kovac sent on fresh legs from the sidelines, bringing on Julian Brandt, Carney Chukwuemeka and Yan Couto for Maximilian Beier, Felix Nmecha and Luca Reggiani. Julian Ryerson then moved into the back three.
Bensebaini prevented Ridle Baku from scoring a third goal for Leipzig in the 73rd minute. Borussia were unable to capitalise on the momentum this brought, with numerous long balls coming to nothing. Nevertheless, Adeyemi, who had also come on as a substitute, had a chance to equalise from the left of the penalty area, but Orban threw himself in to block his shot at the last moment (78). The end of the game was wild and hectic, with eight minutes of added time. And sure enough, Ryerson and Couto drove the ball forward, Brandt played it through to Adeyemi, who crossed into the middle, where Fabio Silva slotted home from a tight angle to make it 2-2 (90+5). Brandt even had a chance to score the winner, but Vandevoordt saved (90+8).
Outlook
On Wednesday (18:45 CET, live on DAZN), BVB travel to Bergamo to play Atalanta for a place in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Next Saturday, (18:30 CET, live on Sky) Bayern Munich travel to a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
LEIPZIG – BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-2 (2-0)
Bundesliga, Matchday 23
Saturday, 21 February 2026, 18:30 CET
Leipzig: Vandevoordt – Baku (Henrichs, 82), Orban, Lukeba, Raum – Seiwald, Schlager (Nusa, 65) – Gruda (Banzuzi, 82), Baumgartner, Diomande (Finkgräfe, 90+4) – Romulo (Harder, 82)
Substitutes: Zingerle, Bitshiabu, Bakayoko, Gomis
BVB: Kobel – Reggiani (Couto, 64), Anton, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha (Chukwuemeka, 64), Svensson – Sabitzer (Adeyemi, 76), Beier (Brandt, 64) – Guirassy (Silva, 71)
Substitutes: Meyer, Özcan, Inacio, Benkara
Goals: 1-0 Baumgartner (Diomonde, 20), 2-0 Baumgartner (Raum, 39), 2-1 Romulo (own goal, 50), 2-2 Silva (Adeyemi, 90+5)
Yellow cards: Romelu, Lukeba, Baumgartner, Raun – Bensebaini, Reggiani, Ryerson (5th, banned), Silva
Referee: Brand (Schwebheim)
Attendance: 47,800 (sold out)
Boris Rupert