Berlin (AFP) – RB Leipzig crashed to a 3-1 defeat at ten-man Moenchengladbach on Monday in the Bundesliga, while fellow Europa League semi-finalists Eintracht Frankfurt also went down 2-0 at Bayer Leverskusen.
Leipzig face Rangers away at Ibrox in Thursday’s semi-final return leg holding a 1-0 lead, but came unstuck at Borussia Park as Jonas Hofmann scored twice for the hosts.
Breel Embolo took advantage of poor Leipzig defending to sweep the hosts into a 1-0 lead after just 17 minutes at Borussia Park.
Leizpig equalised out of nothing when Marcel Halstenberg played the ball into the path of Nkunku, who fired in his 31st goal of the season.
However Moenchengladbach went into the break 2-1 up when Embolo played Hoffmann into space and the midfielder hit the bottom left corner.
Gladbach were reduced to ten men midway through the second half when Nico Elvedi was shown a red card for hauling down Nkunku, who was through on goal.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Hoffmann netted his second goal of the game 23 minutes from time.
The defeat leaves Leipzig fifth in the table, a point outside the Champions League places for next season with two games left.
Likewise, Frankfurt were picked apart at Leverkusen, three days before their home Europa League semi-final against West Ham where they a hold a 2-1 lead after Thursday’s away win.
Brazilian midfielder Paulinho fired Leverkusen into an early lead when he managed to fire through the legs of Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
Leverkusen doubled their lead when Schick hit the net with his 22nd league goal of the season.
