Despite the great backdrop and numerous chances, Rasenballsport Leipzig didn't use the blunders of the competition and stagnated in the table in the fight for the Champions League.
Coach Domenico Tedesco's team drew 0-0 against a harmless Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday in the Bundesliga in front of 43,058 spectators.
With that, RB failed to pull away from Freiburg and Hoffenheim, who also failed to win their games on Saturday.
The Hessians improved to eighth place in the table.
For the first time since the record game with 43,429 spectators against Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of November, Leipzig was able to use its stadium to capacity again and was shown the less fine side of football fans right away.
Firecrackers and other pyrotechnics were ignited in the guest block almost as soon as the whistle kicked off, and a cloud of red and black smoke rolled onto the pitch.
Referee Christian Dingert then interrupted the game for a good one and a half minutes until everyone had a clear view again.
The great excitement in the stands did not initially transfer to the pitch, where both teams unwound their tactical program in a well-organized manner.
It only became dangerous from a distance or after individual mistakes.
Kevin Kampl (22nd minute) captured the ball on the left side of the penalty area, crossed to former Frankfurt player André Silva – but his header was cleared by Martin Hinteregger on the line.
Leipzig continued to increase the pressure and allowed the force shot department two attempts.
Mohamed Simakan's shot from 20 meters (26th) somehow steered Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to the post.
When Laimer tried from a similar distance, Trapp was no longer there, but in the end the crossbar saved him from falling behind.
The goal came in first-half stoppage time from a counterattack, but Christopher Nkunku was ruled offside.
After the change, the excitement rose only briefly when Dani Olmo (46th) finished in the penalty area.
But the shot from the Spanish international, who had been given preference in the starting XI over Emil Forsberg, was too harmless.
After that, Eintracht remained hesitant offensively, but extremely well organized defensively.
Leipzig had increasing problems converting their superiority into opportunities.
Tedesco recognized the problem and exchanged the offensively inconspicuous playmaker Kampl for Forsberg.
It paid off almost immediately.
Nkunku sent Laimer (63rd), who ran alone to Trapp - but the Frankfurter once again showed a strong reflex.
Leipzig continued to press without success, so Tedesco reacted again.
In Yussuf Poulsen he attacked with a breaker and took Silva off the field.
As in the first leg, the former Frankfurter experienced a personally disappointing day at work against his former club.
It was almost pleasant for RB when Lucas Tuta Nkunku (78th) headed the ball into the run, but the Frenchman shot too hastily from 20 meters.