Simons Stars as Leipzig Crush Cologne to Climb into Top 4

In a blistering display of attacking prowess, RB Leipzig dismantled a hapless Cologne side 5-1 on Friday night to vault into the Bundesliga’s coveted top four positions. The architect of this resounding victory? None other than the mercurial Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons, who orchestrated proceedings with a goal and an assist to continue his sensational debut campaign in German football.

Simons opened the scoring in the 15th minute, applying the final touch to a slick passing move involving Dani Olmo and Benjamin Sesko. Though Cologne swiftly equalized through Sargis Adamyan, it proved to be a mere footnote in Leipzig’s comprehensive dominance. Simons was at the heart of it all, combining with the equally impressive Lois Openda to deadly effect.

The Belgian striker bagged a second-half brace, the first a simple tap-in after Simons had unselfishly squared the ball, the second a thumping header from David Raum’s pinpoint cross. With the floodgates well and truly open, Leipzig added further gloss through Amadou Haidara’s thunderbolt and Yussuf Poulsen’s late effort.

For Cologne, the defeat was a brutal reality check, leaving them precariously positioned in the relegation playoff spot, seven points adrift of safety with just eight games remaining to preserve their top-flight status.

But this night belonged to the visitors and their twin attacking talismen. Simons’ game-breaking turn was the latest reminder of why Leipzig coach Marco Rose is “very optimistic” about making the 20-year-old’s loan move from Paris Saint-Germain permanent. On this evidence, the Dutch prodigy is pivotal to Leipzig’s ambitions of returning to the Champions League next season.

His blossoming partnership with the prolific Openda, who took his league tally to 19 goals, is a mouth-watering prospect for Leipzig fans dreaming of silverware. At just 23 years old, the powerful frontman looks every inch the €38 million striker they recruited from Club Brugge.

With the hard-fought three points, Leipzig leapfrogged Borussia Dortmund into fourth place, two points clear of their rivals for the final Champions League qualification berth. However, Dortmund can reclaim that position with a home win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

“Of course it was fun in the end, but it was hard work,” reflected Leipzig defender Raum in a brutally honest assessment. “We didn’t take our chances in the first half but in the second half we did – and you can see what potential we have when we do.”

That potent combination of youthful attacking zest and a relentless winning mentality could well be the difference in Leipzig’s tight tussle with Dortmund. But with Simons pulling the strings and Openda providing the firepower, they will fancy their chances of returning to Europe’s elite club competition.

As Rose succinctly summarized: “A very good away performance. We scored some nice goals, some very nice goals.” Indeed, a performance as classy as the artful manifestation of Simons’ unique talents. Leipzig’s top-four charge has received a timely shot in the arm.