Assan Ouédraogo Shines Bright for RB Leipzig and Germany

Assan Ouédraogo’s season with RB Leipzig is exceeding all expectations. The 19-year-old midfielder made a remarkable entrance into international football, scoring just two minutes into his debut for the German national team on Tuesday, held at his home turf, the Red Bull Arena. Last night, he continued his impressive form by scoring a stunning goal that secured a 1-0 victory against Werder Bremen in a Bundesliga match.

Despite the significance of his recent goal, Ouédraogo believes it does not rank as the finest of his career. Reflecting on his time in the youth ranks of the DFB during his post-match interview, he shared, “I’ve scored two better ones. One in the U-19 European Championship with a drop kick into the corner and one in the U-15 where I scored directly off the kickoff. This one was a bit lucky. I try to play my game and things are certainly going well at the moment, but I’m having some luck and will take that too.”

“It’s been a perfect week,” he added. “Two goals. Two wins. Two clean sheets. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Ouédraogo’s resurgence is emblematic of RB Leipzig’s season. Following a disheartening 6-0 loss to FC Bayern Munich on opening night, newly appointed head coach Ole Werner faced challenges, but the team has since turned a corner. Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, who assisted on Leipzig’s second goal, is also in fine form, reinforcing the team’s revitalization.

In their respective post-match comments, both Baumgartner and Werner praised Ouédraogo’s recent performances. Baumgartner noted, “I’m very happy for him because he had a difficult time in his first year. He’s currently on a high, inspired by the national team and his goals. But that’s no coincidence. He’s a great guy who works very hard, who now believes in himself and who is fit. That goal was an expression of pure quality.”

Werner remarked, “It’s special to work with young players who perform like this. One observes them getting better every day in training and matches. That brings a lot of joy, and Assan has developed superbly so far. He’s certainly not near the top of his potential yet.”