RB Leipzig missed the chance to close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich after being held to a frustrating goalless draw away at in form Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday night.
Coming into the match with eight wins from their previous ten league games, Leipzig arrived in confident mood. But the stalemate leaves them five points adrift of Bayern having played a game more, and it felt like a missed opportunity for Marco Rose’s side.
Gladbach, who spent much of the early campaign fighting relegation fears, have rediscovered their spark and came into the fixture on a run of four straight victories. They carried that momentum into the contest and looked the more threatening throughout. Leipzig, meanwhile, lacked the creativity of teenage midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, sidelined with a knee injury picked up in last weekend’s 2–0 win over Werder Bremen.
“The positive is the clean sheet,” Germany full back David Raum told Sky. “But we weren’t incisive enough in attack. Still, it’s a point away from home against a side with real momentum.”
Gladbach thought they had broken the deadlock shortly after the interval when Franck Honorat bundled the ball in, only for VAR to rule him offside. Fifteen minutes from time, the home side were awarded a penalty when Shuto Machino went down under pressure, but replays showed Leipzig captain Willi Orban had nicked the ball first and the decision was overturned.
Raum came closest for the visitors, rattling the inside of the post with ten minutes remaining.
Leipzig have emerged as unlikely title challengers this season despite losing Xavi Simons, Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda in a turbulent summer their first transfer window under new Red Bull football chief Jürgen Klopp. Thrashed 6–0 by Bayern on the opening day, they have since suffered just one defeat.
However, Bayern could stretch their advantage to eight points if they beat struggling St. Pauli on Saturday, while Leipzig also risk dropping to third should Bayer Leverkusen overcome Borussia Dortmund.
