RB Leipzig suffered a surprising defeat against modest Saint-Étienne in a friendly match featuring veterans Dani Alves and Henri Verdanne.
RB Leipzig unexpectedly lost 1-2 to France's Saint-Étienne in a friendly match. The game was notable for featuring 43-year-old Dani Alves and 41-year-old Henri Vardanants, who both started in the lineup.
The veterans spiced up the match.
Despite being a friendly match, the game was intense. Alves played all 90 minutes as a right-back, while Vardanandz contributed with an assist in the 67th minute. Leipzig's youth squad couldn't hold their own against the experienced French side.
We wanted to give playing time to veterans and young footballers—it turned into an excellent learning process.
— Марко Розе, тренер РБ Лейпциг
Statistics of an unexpected defeat
According to Flashscore, the German club had 62% possession but created 5 fewer shots (9 vs. 14). The only goal for Leipzig was scored by 19-year-old Steffen Tiger in the 78th minute.
This match was the last in Vardanants' career—after the game, the Frenchman announced his retirement from professional play.