LEIPZIG, Dec 16 (V7N): Goals from Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda powered RB Leipzig to a crucial 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash with league leaders Bayern Munich on Friday.

Sesko opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a headed rebound, but Frankfurt equalized through Nathaniel Brown's brilliant solo effort just before halftime. Openda restored Leipzig's lead with a thunderous strike six minutes into the second half, and the hosts held firm to claim all three points.

Leipzig, fresh from Champions League elimination earlier in the week, now sit on 27 points, level with Frankfurt but six behind Bayern. A win in Munich would close the gap to three points and open the door for Bayer Leverkusen, currently four points off the top.

Leipzig midfielder Christoph Baumgartner praised the team's resilience. “We’ve got to keep going like this against Munich,” he said. “We might not have as many chances, but we’ll see what’s possible.”

Frankfurt Struggles Continue

Frankfurt, winless in four matches across all competitions, saw their poor form extend further. Having been knocked out of the German Cup by Leipzig just days ago, Oliver Glasner's men are now desperate to reignite their campaign.

Dortmund Falter Again at Home

Borussia Dortmund's dismal domestic run continued as former player Jacob Bruun Larsen struck a stoppage-time equalizer for Hoffenheim in a 1-1 draw at the Westfalenstadion.

American forward Gio Reyna briefly revived Dortmund with a stunning strike just after halftime, but the team’s failure to defend a throw-in allowed Bruun Larsen to snatch a point.

Defender Nico Schlotterbeck, returning after an injury scare midweek, blasted his team's performance as "unbelievably bad" and "impossible to explain." Coach Nuri Sahin echoed the frustration, calling out the lack of energy despite the club's ongoing injury woes.

Dortmund, now winless since November, sit eighth in the table, 11 points behind Bayern.

Stuttgart Climb After Convincing Win

Stuttgart continued their resurgence with a 3-1 away win over Heidenheim, climbing to sixth in the Bundesliga. Goals from Maximilian Mittelstaedt, Enzo Millot, and a late Nick Woltemade penalty sealed a fourth straight league victory.

Heidenheim, featuring Bayern loanee Paul Wanner, managed a brief fightback when Wanner scored a stunning long-range goal, but Stuttgart proved too strong.

Heidenheim remain in the relegation playoff spot with just 10 points from 14 games as their European commitments weigh heavily on the squad.

Stuttgart’s Maximilian Mittelstaedt summed up the encounter: “Heidenheim had the knife between their teeth, but we threw everything into it.”

END/WSD/RH