bundesliga

RB Leipzig come from behind against Augsburg to secure top spot over the winter break

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RB Leipzig came from behind to beat Augsburg and secure their place atop the Bundesliga table going into the winter break, thanks to second-half goals from Konrad Laimer, Patrik Schick and Yussuf Poulsen.

RB Leipzig 3-1 Augsburg
Goals: 0-1
Niederlechner (8’), 1-1 Laimer (68’), 2-1 Schick (80'), 3-1 Poulsen (89')

USMNT star Tyler Adams made his first appearance of the season for Leipzig, but it did not start as he’d have liked. Just minutes after thinking he'd assisted the opener for the home side, Augsburg went ahead. Marco Richter's incredibly inventive cross – after flicking the ball over his own head on the wing – found Florian Niederlechner in the box and he scored via the crossbar. That was Augsburg's only shot on target of the first half, though, as Leipzig dominated. Timo Werner, Schick and Christopher Nkunku all had good chances on goal, but had the same thing standing in their way – Augsburg goalkeeper Tomas Koubek. His best save of the half came from Nkunku's close-range effort as Leipzig went in at the break behind for the second time in as many games.

The second half started slowly for the home side despite their domination of possession. Werner was sent through on goal before the hour mark, but couldn’t beat Koubek from a tight angle on the left side of the box. Leipzig deservedly levelled three minutes after Marcel Sabitzer's introduction, but it was all thanks to Laimer. The Austrian midfielder won the ball in the Augsburg half and went for goal himself with a lovely curling shot into the far top corner beyond Koubek's reach. Leipzig were in the ascendancy and completed the turnaround with 10 minutes to play. Schick met Nkunku's corner having been left unmarked in the box to head home with ease. Werner then raced away down the left to set up substitute Poulsen for a routine tap-in to seal the win and the nominal Herbstmesiterschaft (autumn championship).

Match stats

  • Leipzig will finish the year top of the standings.
  • Werner has ended the first half of the season with 18 goals and six assists in 17 games, his best-ever Hinrunde return.
  • Leipzig have now scored in 18 Bundesliga games in a row dating back to the end of last season. Leipzig have also become the first Bundesliga team to score at least three goals in eight straight games.
  • Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann is enjoying the longest unbeaten run of his coaching career in professional football, going 12 competitive matches without defeat (W9, D3) since a 2-1 loss at Freiburg at the end of October.
  • Leipzig have won three and drawn one of their three Bundesliga matches at home to Augsburg.
  • Schick has been involved in five goals (four goals, one assist) in his last five league appearances.

Watch: Adams: "I'm excited to be back"

Line-ups

Leipzig: Gulacsi – Adams (Poulsen 86'), Klostermann, Upamecano, Halstenberg – Laimer, Demme (c) (Sabitzer 65’), Haidara, Nkunku - Schick (Mukiele 83'), Werner
Unused subs: Mvogo, Forsberg, Ilsanker, Wolf, Cunha, Ampadu
Out: Kampl (ankle), Konate (hamstring), Orban (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Augsburg: Koubek – Lichtsteiner, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Iago – Jedvaj (Moravek 60’), Baier (c) – Richter, Niederlechner (Jensen 75’), Vargas – Cordova (Hahn 81')
Unused subs: Luthe, Pedersen, Gregoritsch, Schieber, Max, Oxford
Out: Finnbogason (shoulder), Framberger (thigh), Götze (hip), Gruezo (ankle), Khedira (suspended), Suchy (calf)
Coach: Martin Schmidt

Watch: Nagelsmann: "Looking forward to improving my team over the winter break"