Dominant and patient: RB Leipzig are heading for the Champions League in the final spurt of the season. Coach Marco Rose's team deservedly won the direct duel for the Champions League at SC Freiburg 1-0 (0-0) and is now one point ahead of the Breisgau team in the coveted million-dollar places. While Leipzig remains on its wave of euphoria after reaching the final of the DFB Cup, the sports club missed its revenge.

Substitute Kevin Kampl (73rd) also made Freiburg's second dream destination of the season a distant prospect. RB remains the feared opponent, in the last nine duels, the team of coach Christian Streich did not manage to win.

Werner hits the post

Despite the third home defeat, the surprise team still has the first qualification for the Champions League in their own hands, and next week the next direct duel with Union Berlin is away from home.

Four days after the 1-5 defeat in the cup semi-finals at the same venue, both coaches opted for gentle rotation. At Freiburg, Manuel Gulde, Vincenzo Grifo and youngster Noah Weißhaupt moved into the starting line-up for Ritsu Doan (knee), Philipp Lienhart (illness) and Kiliann Sildillia (bench), with Streich switching from a back three to a back four. Rose brought on Mohamed Simakan and Lukas Klostermann for Josko Gvardiol (muscular problems) and Marcel Halstenberg (bench).

As on Tuesday, RB started very dominantly in front of 32,900 spectators and showed some great combinations. Above all, the excess pace in the offensive was immediately noticeable. Timo Werner hit the post alone in front of goal after a dream pass from Amadou Haidara (5th), his next attempt was then deflected just over the bar (10th). Freiburg barely managed to relieve the burden.

On one of the rare forays into the opponent's half, starting eleven debutant Weißhaupt went down in a duel with Willi Orban (16th), but referee Tobias Welz's whistle remained silent despite lively protests. As a result, the Sport-Club got a little more access, at least defensively, also because Leipzig lost a bit of accuracy in the final third. Christopher Nkunku and Werner hindered each other for the best chance (27th).

After the change, Freiburg played a little more courageously, bought RB with more duel intensity the cutting edge. As a result, the game became more open, and Freiburg now also came to longer ball relays. However, both teams lacked ideas and penetration in the final third. Kampl's goal was then a pure effort of will with a fine finish.