RB Leipzig overturned an early deficit to claim a crucial 2-1 victory over Hamburger SV at the Volksparkstadion, ending the hosts’ six-match unbeaten Bundesliga streak in the process.
Leipzig arrived intent on trimming the gap to the top four and immediately showed their attacking intent, with Romulo Cardoso testing Daniel Heuer Fernandes inside the opening exchanges.
Hamburg responded in kind, as Damion Downs forced Maarten Vandevoordt into a sharp low save to keep the scores level.
The home side suffered a setback when Nicolas Capaldo was forced off through injury midway through the first half. However, they quickly regrouped and struck first.
Winning possession around the halfway line, Hamburg launched a swift counterattack, finished emphatically by Fabio Vieira, who fired beyond Vandevoordt to register his second goal in consecutive games.
Leipzig refused to be rattled. Christoph Baumgartner came close to restoring parity with a header that drifted narrowly wide, while Brajan Gruda also threatened as the visitors increased the pressure.
Their persistence paid off in the 36th minute. Ridle Baku cushioned a cross into Romulo’s path, and the forward produced a moment of brilliance, flicking a sublime backheel beyond Heuer Fernandes to make it 1-1.
Carrying that momentum into the second half, Leipzig completed the turnaround within five minutes of the restart.
Another turnover in Hamburg’s half proved costly, and after a slick passing move, Romulo threaded a clever pass into Yan Diomande.
The Ivorian shrugged off three defenders before blasting his finish into the roof of the net.
Romulo had the chance to extend Leipzig’s advantage from the penalty spot after Nicolai Remberg was penalised for handball, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Heuer Fernandes, offering Hamburg a lifeline.
Despite that reprieve, the hosts struggled to mount a sustained comeback. Leipzig continued to look the more dangerous side, though Ezechiel Banzuzi squandered a close-range header that could have put the result beyond doubt.
In the end, it mattered little. Leipzig secured just their second Bundesliga win in six outings, moving within two points of the top four.
Hamburg remain 11th, only four points clear of the relegation zone, and are now winless in their last six meetings with Leipzig.
