Brajan Gruda's late equalizer secured a dramatic 2-2 draw for RB Leipzig against VfL Wolfsburg, concluding a thrilling Bundesliga encounter at the Red Bull Arena.
The Red Bull Arena hosted a clash between teams with contrasting league ambitions. Sixth-placed Leipzig aimed to solidify a European spot, while 15th-placed Wolfsburg desperately sought points to pull away from the relegation zone. This set the stage for an intense battle.
The first half remained goalless despite RB Leipzig's dominant possession. The home side controlled 68% of the ball, pushing forward with 10 total shots, but struggled to break Wolfsburg’s resilient defense. Wolfsburg, meanwhile, focused on containment.
VfL Wolfsburg’s goalkeeper Kamil Grabara proved instrumental in the opening 45 minutes. He made several crucial saves, thwarting Leipzig's attempts and ensuring the score stayed level at the break. His performance kept the visitors in the contest.
Both teams returned from the interval knowing that increased attacking intent was necessary to secure a vital victory.
Wolfsburg stunned the home crowd shortly after the restart. In the 52nd minute, Mohamed Amoura expertly opened the scoring, latching onto A. Daghim's precise pass to give the visitors a surprise lead. This shifted the momentum.
RB Leipzig immediately pressed hard for an equalizer, introducing fresh legs to intensify their attack. Their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when Yan Diomande found the net. Brajan Gruda provided the assist, rekindling Leipzig's hopes.
Just eight minutes later, Wolfsburg pulled ahead once more. Mattias Svanberg expertly converted in the 78th minute, with J. Belocian providing the assist. This re-established Wolfsburg’s lead and silenced the home fans.
With time quickly running out, Leipzig launched a final, desperate assault. Brajan Gruda became the hero for the home side, drilling home a dramatic equalizer in the 89th minute. His unassisted strike ensured a share of the points.
The match statistics highlighted Leipzig's overall dominance, despite the draw. They finished with 19 total shots and an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.62. Wolfsburg managed just 10 shots and an xG of 0.59, relying heavily on Grabara’s eight saves.
This hard-fought draw sees RB Leipzig remain 6th in the Bundesliga standings. VfL Wolfsburg earned a valuable point in their fight to avoid relegation, showcasing immense defensive effort and clinical finishing.
