RB Leipzig secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga Round 16, marking their first clean sheet since October 2022. The home side dominated the match, outshooting the away team 19-4.
The opening goal came in the 27th minute when RB Leipzig's forward Christian Olmo found space on the left wing and scored unassisted. This early strike set the tone for the rest of the game.
In the second half, RB Leipzig continued to dominate possession, creating several opportunities. However, it was not until the 81st minute that they finally broke through. Nkunku, who had been lurking in the box, collected a ball from a corner kick and slotted it past goalkeeper Simon Kjær to give RB Leipzig the lead.
Mainz 05, despite playing much better defensively, struggled to create meaningful chances against the strong Leipzig defense. Their poor shooting accuracy (only one shot on target) further contributed to their defeat.
With this win, RB Leipzig improved to 7th place in the Bundesliga standings, while Mainz 05 dropped to 10th. The result also gave RB Leipzig a boost ahead of their upcoming fixtures, including a clash with Bayern Munich in the league final.
This victory highlights RB Leipzig's improved defensive performance under head coach Julian Nagelsmann. The team has shown resilience and determination throughout the season, and this win is another testament to their progress.