Leipzig survive late scare in 1-1 draw with Freiburg

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 RB Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer and Patrik Schick react, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

Bundesliga title hopefuls RB Leipzig needed the help of the video assistant referee (VAR) to grab a 1-1 draw at home to Freiburg when the German top-flight returned to action on Saturday after a two-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Leipzig wasted a slew of great chances after falling behind until captain Yussuf Poulsen rose to head them level in the 77th minute, with Freiburg having what looked to be a stoppage-time winner ruled out by VAR for offside.

Starting the day five points behind leaders Bayern Munich, Leipzig seemed to have lost none of their sharpness during the shut-down, with striker Timo Werner looking particularly dangerous in the first half. 

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 SC Freiburg's Robin Koch in action with RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

However, Freiburg took the lead against the run of play in the 34th minute when Manuel Gulde got the last touch to guide home a corner, with the players celebrating his goal by bumping elbows rather than sharing high-fives and hugs. 

That goal shook the home side and though they continued to enjoy plenty of possession, their previous composure disappeared.

They were not helped by the eerie atmosphere caused by a lack of fans in the stands with the substitutes spread out along the sidelines wearing face masks, rather than taking their normal place in the dugout.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 SC Freiburg's Nicolas Hofler in action with RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

Ten minutes into the second half, Leipzig substitute Ademola Lookman flashed a volley wide with the goal at his mercy, and that miss prompted a barrage of wasted chances from the hosts.

Poulsen's towering header gave them a badly-needed confidence boost and they set about chasing a winner that would have kept them on the heels of leaders Bayern Munich, who play Union Berlin on Sunday, and second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who hammered Schalke 04 4-0 in the Ruhr derby.

Instead, they almost came unstuck in stoppage time as Robin Koch fired home Lucas Hoeler's knockdown from a free kick, but Hoeler was judged to be offside and the goal was chalked off by the VAR.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 RB Leipzig's Timo Werner in action with Freiburg's Nico Schlotterbeck, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

The draw leaves Leipzig with 51 points after 26 games, four points behind Munich and three behind Dortmund, while Freiburg climb to seventh in the table on 37 points, ahead of Schalke on goal difference.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 SC Freiburg's Manuel Gulde in action with RB Leipzig's Timo Werner, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 RB Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer and Kevin Kampl react, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann wearing a protective face mask with Angelino, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen reacts, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 SC Freiburg's Christian Gunter in action with RB Leipzig's Tyler Adams, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg - Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany - May 16, 2020 SC Freiburg's Robin Koch in action with RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS