bundesliga

RB Leipzig produce incredible fightback to earn point at 10-man Augsburg

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Trailing by 3-0 after 64 minutes, RB Leipzig took advantage of an Iago red card to hit back at Augsburg, the visitors scoring through Andre Silva, Christopher Nkunku and Hugo Novoa to complete a remarkable comeback.

Augsburg 3-3 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0
Berisha (pen. 34'), 2-0 Demirovic 51' (assist: Berisha), 3-0 Vargas 64' (assist: Berisha), 3-1 Silva 73' (assist: Szoboszlai), 3-2 Nkunku 89', 3-3 Novoa 90'
Red card: Iago 66'

In need of a lift following last weekend's reverse against Cologne and their midweek ousting from the DFB Cup at the hands of Bayern Munich, Augsburg aimed to leapfrog Leipzig in the standings with victory over their visitors. After surviving a scare midway through the opening half when Emil Forsberg's goal-bound shot was pushed wide by Tomas Koubek, Enrico Maaßen's men to hit the front from the penalty spot. David Raum's illegal challenge on Ruben Vargas inside the Leipzig area offered Mergim Berisha the chance to score his second goal of the campaign, which he duly grasped with the coolest of spot-kicks into the corner. The hosts eventually took a 1-0 lead into the break, but it could have been more. Prior to the whistle signalling half-time, Belisha's accurate centre was met by Ermedin Demirovic, who connected with an angled finish that flashed inches past the far post.

Marco Rose's side had previously conceded five goals from corners this season and that stat was added to six minutes after the break. Berisha's set-piece from the left was watched all the way by Demirovic, who - unmarked - ducked and nodded in for 2-0. It was to get even worse for a laboured Leipzig team when Ruben Vargas met one more Berisha dead ball from the left at the near post, Augsburg's No.16 controlling before lashing a volley back across Janis Blaswich and into the corner. With the locals cruising, Iago's sending off for a second bookable offence seemed all the more needless, the Brazilian getting involved in some afters with Xaver Schlager. Leipzig soon made the most of their numerical advantage, Silva tapping home Dominik Szoboszlai's pass. Substitute Nkunku then made amends for a point-blank miss with a curling free-kick Koubek could only palm into the net. Their nerves now jangling, Augsburg were caught out again almost immediately. Koubek meeting Silva's low shot with an outstretched foot, the keeper looked on in horror as Hugo Novoa knocked in the loose ball to complete Leipzig's astounding comeback.

Match stats

  • Leipzig conceded their third penalty of the season, as many as they gave away in the entire 2021/22 campaign.
  • The hosts went 2-0 up when finally scoring from a corner after 52 attempts this term.
  • Demirovic netted his fifth goal of the campaign and in doing so, equalled his best-ever top-flight tally back in 2020/21.
  • Vargas celebrated his first goal of the season.
  • Andre Silva registered his first of the season in the Bundesliga after 18 attempts on goal in this campaign.
  • Leipzig have 16 points after 11 games, their worst haul in the top-flight at this stage of a campaign.

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Teams

Augsburg: Koubek – Pedersen (Caligiuri 78'), Bauer, Gouweleeuw (c), Iago – Vargas, Gruezo, Rexhbecaj, Demirovic – Niederlechner (Maier 87'), Berisha (Framberger 78')
Unused subs: Klein, Zehnter, Katic, Baumgartlinger, Petkov, Mbila
Out: Dorsch (metatarsal), Gikiewicz (thigh), Gumny (adductor), Hahn (knee), Jensen (illness), Oxford (knee), Sarenren Bazee (cruciate ligament), Strobl (knee), Uduokhai (ankle)
Coach: Enrico Maaßen

Leipzig: Blaswich – Henrichs (Novoa 73'), Orban (c), Gvardiol, Raum – Szoboszlai, Kampl (Haidara 59'), Schlager, Forsberg (Olmo 80') – Silva, Poulsen (Nkunku 59')
Unused subs: Nyland, Ba, Simakan, Diallo
Out: Gulacsi (knee), Halstenberg (illness), Klostermann (ankle), Laimer (ankle), Werner (illness)
Coach: Marco Rose