The Japan Times - Openda, Sesko take Leipzig past Union

In teeming rain, Leipzig rediscovered their attacking fluency, with Dani Olmo again impressing.

Leipzig came into the match as the only Bundesliga side not to pick up a point since the winter break, allowing Borussia Dortmund to overtake them into the Champions League places.

Leipzig welcomed back goalkeeper and captain Peter Gulacsi, who was playing his first league game since October 2022 after a knee injury, as well as defender Willi Orban, who started for the first time in five months.

Openda slammed in a rebound on 11 minutes to raise his tally to 14 league goals this season.

Sesko doubled Leipzig's lead shortly after half-time, heading in a curling cross from David Raum.

The Slovenian found the net again nine minutes later but the goal was struck off by VAR for a narrow offside in the build-up.

The VAR intervention seemed to shock Union into life, with the visitors roaming forward and pressuring the Leipzig defence.

Any hopes of an Union comeback were snuffed out with just over a quarter of an hour remaining however, when defender Christopher Trimmel saw straight red for sinking his studs into Raum's foot.

The win took Leipzig one point behind fourth-placed Dortmund.

Union remain just two points and one place above the relegation playoff spot, but have a game in hand to be played at fellow strugglers Mainz on Wednesday.

Earlier on Sunday, Wolfsburg came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at home with Hoffenheim, with Croatia midfielder Lovro Majer scoring both goals for the home side.

This was Wolfsburg's fourth draw in a row and leaves them in 11th, while Hoffenheim are eighth, two places and five points outside the European berths.

Majer was subbed on early in the second half with Hoffenheim 1-0 up thanks to a classy solo goal from Maximilian Beier after just six minutes.

Beier, 21, danced down the left flank before rocketing a shot across the face of goal for the opener, the German scoring his eighth goal of the campaign.

Majer levelled just two minutes after coming off the bench with a smart left-footed finish, only for Hoffenheim to take the lead again when Grischa Proemel pounced on a poor pass from Wolfsburg 'keeper Koen Casteels.

Majer then dragged Wolfsburg level once more, winning and converting a penalty for his fourth league goal since arriving from Ligue 1 side Rennes in the summer.

K.Abe--JT