by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Relief might have come at the right time for two-time German Cup winner RB Leipzig.
Following weeks of drought coming along with a series of goalless draws in the national league, the side of head coach Marco Rose enjoyed their striker's goals festival taking the East-German club to a convincing 4-0 over Augsburg.
Ahead of the UEFA Champions League encounter on home soil against Italian giant Juve this Wednesday evening, RB's attackers such as Dutch international Xavi Simons, Belgian international Lois Openda, and Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko gained desperately needed confidence.
Only eight scored goals in five league encounters following the narrow 2-1 defeat against Atletico in the Champions League seemed to rest like a dark shadow over the team's progress.
"The boys must get rid of that heavy burden on their shoulders. I hope, the Augsburg game is encouraging them to continue," Rose said.
While having secured the club's Champions League participation through their goal supply in the previous season (46 of 77), easiness seems lost to some extent.
Following an energy-taking 2024 UEFA Euro tournament, a late preparation start for the club season seemed to collide with high expectations. For a reason, Leipzig was always mentioned when fans and pundits talked about possible title challengers for reigning German cuuhampions Leverkusen.
Not to speak of international ambitions. Former club boss and current Red Bull company CEO Oliver Mintzlaff demanded a breakthrough on the national and international stage.
It's time to make further progress after the side had reached the semis in the UEFA Euro League and the Champions League, the former long-distance runner demanded.
German international David Raum called Xavi a "game changer and a key figure" and "therefore he is deserving all possible support."
The fact, that Juve kept its shirt clean in their first six Serie A encounters might increase the challenge for Leipzig's attacking line.
Rose demanded that his strikers keep their minds free of hindering concerns and follow their instincts. From his perspective, the four goals last weekend removed tones off the striker's shoulders.
Coming along with only two conceived goals in the league is the 3-2 victory over last season's unbeaten Leverkusen.
Beating Juve with a goal festival remains a bold dream for Wednesday but confidence seems back for the RB strikers after leaving their performance low.
Defender Raum, responsible for additional runs over the left flank, spoke about getting the front line into a frenzy. "They can do it," he said while adding: "I saw happiness is back for them when they scored against Augsburg." ■
