Rb Leipzig ran out 4-0 winners over FC Verl in a club friendly on Friday evening. The German side opened their pre-season campaign with a comfortable victory in front of their supporters. It was a straightforward affair, though the final penalty added a touch of drama to an otherwise predictable result.
The hosts took the lead just before half-time, scoring in the 45th minute. By then, the visitors were already looking rattled, and it showed when they picked up a yellow card in the same period. Verl were second to everything in that opening phase, and the goal put them on the back foot for the second half.
And here's the thing: Leipzig didn't let up after the break. They doubled their advantage in the 71st minute, then added a third in the 84th. Verl were reduced to ten men in spirit if not in fact, but they couldn't find any foothold. The crowd roared them on, but it made little difference to the visitors' fortunes.
The match ended with a penalty goal in the 90th minute, giving Leipzig a comprehensive 4-0 victory. To be fair, the result reflected the game's progression. They were out-thought on the touchline, and Verl couldn't respond when pressed.
The statistics tell the same story. Leipzig kept a clean sheet and committed no fouls that warranted cards, while Verl picked up one yellow card in the entire match. They were outclassed, and there's no way around it.
For Leipzig, this extends their unbeaten run in pre-season friendlies. They've shown they can string results together, with victories over Ingolstadt 04 and Altglienicke before this. Verl, meanwhile, have won just once in five matches, and this result doesn't improve their standing.