RB Leipzig have won 1-0 at Arminia Bielefeld to put pressure on leaders Bayern Munich ahead of their upcoming Bundesliga table topper.
Captain Marcel Sabitzer netted the winner less than a minute into the second half from a Dani Olmo pass as Leipzig rebounded from a 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt with a seventh win in their last eight league matches.
Leipzig host Bayern in the next round on April 3 after the international break.
They moved within one point of the champions for at least a few hours, with Bayern playing mid-table VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
“We should have decided the game earlier but Bielefeld defended with a lot of passion. In the end it was a deserved win,” Leipzig sports director Markus Kroesche told streaming portal DAZN.
“We have done our home work, let’s see what Bayern do now.”
Leipzig were more dangerous from the outset against 15th-placed Bielefeld who got a surprise 2-1 win at European contenders Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.
Emil Forsberg and Olmo were denied by Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega who also deflected a header from Christopher Nkunku against the crossbar.
But in the 46th minute Bielefeld lost the ball in their own half and Olmo set up Sabitzer for an easy tap-in with a low cross from the right.
Fabian Klos aimed high 10 minutes later in the most notable chance for the hosts while on the other end substitute Hwang Hee Chan had a shot blocked from a promising position.
“Unfortunately we lost but everyone gave their all. We must now look ahead,” Bielefeld’s Arne Maier said.
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