RB Leipzig's quest for a first UEFA Champions League point of the campaign continues after they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro on Matchday 5.

Inter Milan 1-0 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Lukeba (o.g. 27')

The match was an opportunity for Marco Rose's Leipzig to pick up their first points of the European season after successive defeats in their opening four matches, but things immediately looked difficult as Inter smothered them with a heavy press from the off. Italy wing-back Federico Dimarco menaced down the left as well as with his dead-ball deliveries, and it was from one of his numerous corners - nodded down by Stefan de Vrij and deflected off the heel of an unwitting Castello Lukeba - that the opener came in the 27th minute. Leipzig could only muster half-chances throughout the half and went into the break in dire need of solutions.

Inter delivered more of the same as the second half began, Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Mehdi Taremi all with chances, but Leipzig held firm - thanks in no small part to some solid work from keeper Péter Gulácsi - and grew in confidence as the half played out. With Inter seemingly content to sit back and defend their lead, Rose brought on fresh legs in attack and the chances started to flow for the visitors, with Kevin Kampl and Antonio Nusa trying their luck, but the cutting edge just wouldn't materialise for Die Roten Bullen. Inter thought they had made sure of the result late on when ex-Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram broke and set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan, formerly of Borussia Dortmund, to slot into an empty net, but the offside flag denied them. Nonetheless, the Italians held out for a fifth straight win, leaving Rose & Co. winless.

Match stats

• Before this match, Leipzig had a perfect record in Italy, having beaten Atalanta and Napoli in the 2021/22 and 2017/18 UEFA Europa League respectively.
• Rose oversaw his record-extending 20th Champions League game as Leipzig coach - more than any of his predecessors. Julian Nagelsmann held the previous record (18 matches between 2019/20 and 2020/21).
• Die Roten Bullen are playing Champions League football for the seventh time. They've reached the knockouts on four occasions, going as far as the semi-finals in 2019/20.
• A Bayern team that included Inter's Benjamin Pavard won the Champions League that season. All told, the Frenchman made 163 competitive appearances for the record champions.
• Inter's head-to-head record against German clubs in the Champions League reads: W9, D4, L9.

Teams

Inter: Sommer - Pavard (Bisseck 43'), De Vrij, Bastoni (Augusto 65') - Dumfries, Barella (c), Çalhanoğlu (Mkhitaryan 75'), Zieliński, Dimarco - Taremi (65'), L. Martínez (c) (Arnautović 75')

Unused subs: Di Gennaro, J. Martínez, Buchanan, Asllani, Darmian, Aidoo

Out: -
Coach: Simone Inzaghi

Leipzig: Gulácsi - Geertruida (Gebel 85'), Orbán (c), Lukeba, Henrichs - Baumgartner (Ouédraogo 61') (Vermeeren 70'), Kampl, Haidara (Seiwald 61'), Nusa - Openda, Silva (Šeško 61')
Unused subs: Vandevoort

Out: Bitshiabu (muscular), Elmas (hamstring), Klostermann (thigh), Poulsen (muscular), Raum (ankle), Schlager (knee), Xavi (ankle)

Coach: Marco Rose

As it happened!

1 - 0

(1 - 0)

Inter

FINAL

Leipzig

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 5 League phase, Matchday 5 San Siro, Milan

Full-time: Inter 1-0 Leipzig

Leipzig were unable to find a way past an imperious Inter side but were nonetheless unlucky to lose narrowly to an own-goal. The Italians dominated large portions of the game with their stable defence and dangerous set-piece situations and, despite creating a few moments of danger, especially in the second half, Leipzig were unable to pose much of a threat. A deserved win for the hosts.

© IMAGO/Spada/LaPresse

End of second half

90'

+ 2

Off-side!

Following some dogged work from Thuram, who worries Lukeba off the ball before working it to Mkhitaryan, the former Dortmund man slots into an empty net - but the goal is ruled out for off-side. Leipzig still have a chance!

90'

Four minutes added on

Long enough for Leipzig to get a leveller!

86'

No danger

Leipzig work a corner short but Kampl's eventual ball into the area is too low to get past the vigilant Inter defence. Wasted chance!

85'

Substitution

Viggo Gebel

Lutsharel Geertruida

85'

Yellow card

Castello Lukeba

84'

Italian job

Inter have taken their foot off the gas somewhat, sitting back and looking to use Thuram's pace up front to hit on the counter. They are clearly ok with a (another) 1-0 win.

82'

Opportunity lapses

Openda breaks and gets the ball to Geertruida on the edge of the area, but then Leipzig take too long to find an option and Inter get things under control.

80'

Leipzig still in it

Leipzig are not giving up. Seiwald sets up Geertruida with a lovely high ball, and he looks for Orbán in the box, but de Vrij makes a last-ditch tackle. This is more like it from the Leipzigers!

75'

Bundesliga alumni

Both of Inter's latest substitutes - Mkhitaryan (ex-Dortmund) und Arnautović (ex-Bremen) - bring some former Bundesliga energy onto the pitch.

75'

Substitution

Marko Arnautović

Lautaro Martínez

75'

Substitution

Henrik Mkhitaryan

Hakan Çalhanoğlu

72'

Yellow card

Marco Rose

72'

Dimarco dangerous again

The Inter wide man crosses for subsitute Thuram at the far post, and the resulting angled header is only just wide. Close call!

70'

Ouédraogo can't continue

The Leipzig youngster makes way for Vermeeren. Hopefully his injury isn't too serious.

70'

Substitution

Arthur Vermeeren

Assan Ouédraogo

69'

Best chance so far

Çalhanoğlu loses the ball while playing out of defence and Kampl plays a great ball through the middle to Nusa, who shoots with his foot on the right. Sommer has to stretch to his full height to bring down the ball. Leipzig are startting to cook!

69'

Kampl fires

After receivingthe ball in the left half-space, Kampl tries a powerful snap-shot that goes wide but causes some concern for Sommer.

67'

Doesn't look good

Just seconds after coming on, Ouédraogo looks to have injured himself and receives treatment.

65'

Substitution

Marcus Thuram

Mehdi Taremi

65'

Substitution

Carlos Augusto

Alessandro Bastoni

61'

Fresh legs!

Leipzig boss Rose rings the changes up front, bringing on Šeško, Seiwald and Ouédraogo for some fresh impetus up front.

61'

Substitution

Assan Ouédraogo

Christoph Baumgartner

61'

Substitution

Benjamin Šeško

André Silva

61'

Substitution

Nicolas Seiwald

Amadou Haidara

60'

Signs of life

Under heavy pressure from Barella in the area, Silva looks to sneak the ball to strike partner Openda, but Sommer drops smartly to cut it out.

57'

More of the same

The hosts are bringing most of the danger, but Leipzig are still in it...

4On target

10Shots

4On target

0Shots

56'

Taremi nods over

After a period of calm possession, Inter switch the temp and a deft pass from Dimarco sees the hosts burst forward. Dumfries' first-time cross from the right finds Taremi, who rises highest, but his effort goes over the bar. Leipzig breathe a sigh of relief.

53'

Çalhanoġlu fires

Inter's fit-again star player gets the ball outside the area and tries his luck with bobbling low drive that Gulácsi does well to control.

50'

Immense pressure

Knocking the ball around with apparent ease, Inter bear down on Leipzig's goal and just when it seems Martínez will convert Dimarco's sharp cross, Lukeba intervenes. That was close!

47'

Immediate threat

Inter pick up where they left off in the first half, Barella combining with Martínez, who finds Dumfries - but Kampl manages to ruin the party and the Dutchman's shot goes well wide.

46'

We're back!

No changes at half-time.

45'

+ 3

Half-time: Inter 1-0 Leipzig

It has been one-way traffic in the first half, with hosts Inter dominating the ball - and chances on goal - and taking a deserved lead thanks to a combination of danger man Dimarco and some bad luck for Leipzig defender Lukeba. Leipzig need to break the shackles in the second half if they're to break their European duck for the season...

45'

+ 2

No luck

Leipzig finally win a corner but nothing comes if it as the whistle for half-time blows...

No time

Dogged by an aggressive Inter press, Leipzig are struggling to get time on the ball and get their game going.

© Marco Luzzani

43'

Pavard can't continue

It looks like a muscular issue for the former Bayern Munich man, who leaves the field and is replaced by Bisseck.

43'

Substitution

Benjamin Pavard

Yann Bisseck

41'

Play stops for Pavard

The Frenchman styas down after a challenge and receives treatment.

41'

Lukeba fends off Dumfries

The Leipzig defender does well to hinder Dumfries as the Dutchman looks to break into the area, using his body well to make sure that penalty claims were waved away.

37'

From distance

Zieliński tries his luck from 30 metres out and while it's well hit, it flies well over the target.

34'

Dangerous tackle

The Leipzig midfielder is sanctioned for a sliding tackle.

32'

Yellow card

Christoph Baumgartner

32'

Bastoni drags Openda down

The Inter defender sees yellow after his irregular contact with the Leipzig striker as he looked to break through on goal.

32'

Yellow card

Alessandro Bastoni

31'

Dominant

Inter are allowing Leipzig very little space and very little time on the ball - Marco Rose's side need to find their feet if they are to get back into this match!

27'

Goal!

Inter's relentless pressure pays off as, from a wide Dimarco free-kick, the ball is nodded down by de Vrij and ricochets off Leipzig defender Lukeba's legs and past Gulácsi for a heart-breaking opener.

25'

Leipzig push

The visitors take possession and a deft pass from Lukeba finds an unmarked Geertruida in the area, but his attempted cross finds no takers and Inter clear.

21'

Dangerous free-kick position

Following Baumgartner's foul on Zieliński 25 metres out, Çalhanoġlu takes charge of dead-ball duties but fires his effort into the Leipzig wall.

17'

Openda shows a glimpse

Now Leipzig are on the offensive. Openda has the ball on the left. He uses a clever body move to get past Barella, but is then cleanly stopped by de Vrij.

13'

Another corner

Inter are staying on the front foot here, dominating possession and racking up the corners. Dead-ball man Dimarco is in the thick of it, working a one-two with Çalhanoġlu and firing a curling effort just wide.

11'

Yellow card

Benjamin Pavard

9'

Gulácsi parries

Dimarco gets into a dangerous position on the left of the area and tries his luck with angled drive. The Hungarian keeper fists it clear.

5'

Inter get forward in numbers

The hosts have their foot on the ball now and are piling on the pressure.

3'

Taremi takes a first crack

The Inter striker gets a loose ball on the edge of the area and takes a shot - but it's no trouble for Gulácsi.

We're under way!

The hosts, in their blue and black stripes, kick off against visitors Leipzig decked out in white.

Just minutes to go!

The anthem is playing, the teams are out... not long now until Leipzig kick off their bid for a first win of the Champions League campaign...

1:48

Cutting edge

Check out all of Leipzig's league goals from the season so far...

More on those teams

For Leipzig, coach Marco Rose has opted to partner danger man Loïs Openda with Portugal's André Silva - a former AC Milan player - rather than Benjamin Šeško, their top scorer in the competition this season (three goals). Meanwhile Inter captain Lautaro Martínez will start despite having been doubtful due to illness, joining a fit-again Hakan Çalhanoğlu in the XI.

© IMAGO/Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

Leipzig starting XI

Gulácsi - Geertruida, Orbán (c), Lukeba, Henrichs - Baumgartner, Kampl, Haidara, Nusa - Openda, André Silva

Leipzig subs

Vandevoort, Seiwald, Vermeeren, Ouedraogo, Šeško, Gebel

Inter starting XI

Sommer - Pavard, De Vrij, Bastoni - Dumfries, Barella (c), Çalhanoğlu, Zieliński, Dimarco - Taremi, Martínez (c)

Inter subs

Di Gennaro, J. Martínez, Arnautović, Thuram, Buchanan, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Augusto, Bisseck, Damian, Aidoo

The road ahead for Leipzig

After tonight's match Leipzig face Aston Villa (h), Sporting Lisbon (h) and Sturm Graz (a) in their final three Champions League matches.

1:16

RB Leipzig: Best of Benjamin Šeško 2024/25

But Sommer will have a tough task stopping Šeško tonight considering the Slovenian's sublime form in Europe.

6:10

Watch: Yann Sommer - one of the Bundesliga's best

Here's a reminder of what made Sommer so special during his 291 appearances for Gladbach and Bayern.

Ones to watch

Benjamin Šeško is flying in Europe this season having scored three of Leipzig's four goals. Inter's star performer has been Sommer, who is yet to concede in four games, making 14 saves.

© DFL

Plenty of familiar faces

On top of the aforementioned Sommer and Thuram who played under Rose at Gladbach, Inter have six more former Bundesliga players. The key names are Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who lit up Dortmund from 2013 to 2016; German-born former Leverkusen and Hamburg star Hakan Çalhanoğlu; and ex-Bayern man Benjamin Pavard.

© imago/Sven Simon

Federico Dimarco on Leipzig

"We will have to put in a good performance against a strong opponent, we have to try and win in front of our fans and claim all three points. They're third in the Bundesliga and haven't conceded many goals in the league. They have a lot of strengths with high quality players, but as always we have to play our game."

Simone Inzaghi on Leipzig

"RB Leipzig have been in the Champions League for six years, they were in the semi finals in 2020 and they had the second-best defence in the Bundesliga until Saturday. They have a lot of quality and have deserved more in the last few games. They are a recognisable and organised team, with quality players and the standings are not a reflection of how they have played in the Champions League. While in the league the situation is different, we know we're facing a very strong side".

© PIERO CRUCIATTI

Benjamin Henrichs on playing at San Siro

"It's an impressive stadium. These are the games you dream of as a kid, playing in the Champions League with this overwhelming sense of gratitude. I know that it's not easy to play here. I've been here before with Germany against Italy. It will be a very different crowd this time and it's sure to top the atmosphere from back then. I think it will be a heated match."

© PIERO CRUCIATTI

Rose on his former players Sommer and Thuram

"They're both great players. Yann was a leading player for a long time in Gladbach and is strong on his line. He's also an incredibly good-looking lad, someone you'd be happy to marry your daughter. Marcus developed really well in his first season in Gladbach. I would have liked to have had him in my team when it was time for him to take the next step, but he ended up in Milan. He has real pace and can finish well."

Rose on Inter

"Inter have a good side with a lot of individual quality. They also have a coach who has had great success over a number of years. He has clear ideas and a team that defends well, but also puts you under pressure. They have a clear 3-5-2 system and up front they use the pace of Marcus Thuram, whom I know from my time at Gladbach. Hakan Çalhanoğlu is the focal point for their play."

© PIERO CRUCIATTI

Clean slate

This is the first time that these two sides have met, but not the first time Marco Rose has faced them. His Borussia Mönchengladbach side faced them twice in the 2020/21 season, drawing once and losing once. He will see a familiar face in Marcus Thuram, who played under the Leipzig boss at Gladbach, when the two sides meet on Tuesday.

Having a wobble

With two losses and one draw from their last three Bundesliga games, Marco Rose's side appear to be having their first rough patch of the season. They'll have to pick themselves up quickly from their recent defeat to Hoffenheim, as they currently sit in place 32 out of 36 in the Champions League standings.

2:03

Watch: Hoffenheim 4-3 RB Leipzig - highlights

Leipzig fell to their second defeat of the season against Hoffenheim in what was a thrilling encounter. Marco Rose's side made it four games without a win in all competitions and surrendered second-place in the Bundesliga to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Leipzig - the story so far

Leipzig are one of five teams without a point in the new-format Champions League. Following defeats to Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool and Celtic, they really need a result if they're to get back in contention to reach the knockout rounds.

© Ian MacNicol

Inter - the story so far

Inter are unbeaten in this season's Champions League. After holding Man City to a goalless draw on Matchday 1, the Italians have reeled off wins over Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys and Arsenal to keep the pressure on league leaders Liverpool.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of RB Leipzig's fifth UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at Inter Milan on Tuesday.

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