Zsolt Low’s tenure as RB Leipzig head coach got off to a disappointing start as his side suffered a 3-1 defeat against Stuttgart in the German Cup semifinals on Wednesday.
The loss ended Leipzig’s hopes of another cup final appearance, while Stuttgart booked their place in the competition’s showpiece event for the first time in 12 years.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Leipzig struggled to convert their opportunities.
Stuttgart, on the other hand, made the most of theirs, with goalkeeper Alexander Nübel producing a stellar performance to keep Leipzig at bay.
The match began with a stunning strike from Angelo Stiller, who fired Stuttgart ahead in the sixth minute with a volley from outside the box.
Leipzig continued to press for an equalizer, but Stuttgart doubled their advantage in the 57th minute when Nick Woltemade capped off a well-worked passing move.
Leipzig responded almost immediately through Benjamin Sesko, reigniting hopes of a comeback.
However, Jamie Leweling ended those aspirations in the 73rd minute, bundling the ball over the line from a corner to seal Stuttgart’s victory.
Throughout the game, Nübel was a key figure in maintaining Stuttgart’s lead, denying Leipzig repeatedly, including three crucial saves against Loïs Openda in the first half. He also showed sharp reflexes to claim a deflected shot from Xavi Simons.
Among those in attendance was Jürgen Klopp, who, in his role as head of Red Bull’s global soccer, observed Leipzig’s first game under Low.
The Hungarian coach, who previously worked as an assistant to Thomas Tuchel at PSG, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, fielded a youthful lineup, giving a first start to 19-year-old defender Kosta Nedeljkovic, on loan from Aston Villa.
However, his side ultimately fell short, missing out on what would have been their fourth cup final in five years.
Leipzig will now shift focus back to the Bundesliga, where they face Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Both Leipzig and Stuttgart have endured frustrating seasons, with neither team advancing past the Champions League group stage.
Their league struggles continue as well, Leipzig sits sixth, while Stuttgart is in 11th place, putting them at risk of missing out on next season’s Champions League.
With this victory, Stuttgart advances to face third-division Arminia Bielefeld in the final in Berlin next month.
Bielefeld stunned reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen in the other semifinal on Tuesday, setting up an unexpected showdown for the German Cup title.
