RB Leipzig deliver second-half masterclass to defeat Elversberg and extend home record
RB Leipzig scored four second-half goals as Martin Demichelis’ side extended their record run of Bundesliga victories at the Red Bull Arena against Elversberg.
RB Leipzig 4-0 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Gomis 48’ (assist: Nusa), 2-0 Rômulo 66’ (assist: Nusa), 3-0 Baumgartner (assist: Gruda), 4-0 Rômulo 90’+4 (assist: Koné)
Leipzig boss Martín Demichelis opted to ring the changes after Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, making eight alterations to his starting XI. Willi Orbán, Antonio Nusa and Neil El Aynaoui were the only players to keep their place in the side, while Christopher Nkunku was absent with a groin injury.
Vincent Wagner made only one change to the Elversberg side that beat Augsburg last weekend. Frederik Schmahl, who scored Elversberg’s fourth against Manuel Baum’s charges on Matchday 6, was handed his full Bundesliga debut in place of Noah Darvich, who was unavailable with a muscle issue.
Elversberg frustrate hosts
Elversberg gave as good as they got in the early stages, although clear-cut opportunities remained few and far between until Nusa curled an effort narrowly over the bar from the corner of the penalty area with 15 minutes gone.
David Mokwa forced Ørjan Nyland into a fine save seven minutes before the break, sending a a dipping, long-range effort towards goal which the Leipzig custodian did well to tip over the bar. Neither side could find a breakthrough, though, as the sides went in level at the break.
Leipzig explode into life
Demichelis, who sent on Rômulo for Andrija Maksimović at the break, will have been delighted with his team's start to the second period. The hosts were rewarded for their bright start to the half when Nusa outmuscled Jan Gyamerah before teeing up Gomis, who swept home with his left foot to make it 1-0.
Half-time substitute Rômulo doubled their lead in the 66th minute, collecting a Nusa pass, holding off Lukas Pinckert and slotting through the legs of goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof.
Baumgartner nets emotional third
Christoph Baumgartner, back from injury, made an immediate impact after replacing Nusa, heading home Brajan Gruda's cross at the far post to make it 3-0 with six minutes remaining.
Then, deep into injury time, Leipzig debutant Abdoul Koné drove to the byline before back-heeling the ball to Rômulo, who added his second and Leipzig's fourth from close range to complete the rout.
Man of the Match: Antonio Nusa
Nusa was central to both of Leipzig's first two goals, teeing up Gomis' opener with a driving run before setting up Rômulo's second with a defence-splitting pass.
He also went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a curling effort that drifted just over the bar, and was handed a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 72nd minute.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Leipzig 2.18 - SV Elversberg 0.46
Fastest player: Tidiam Gomis (Leipzig), 34.64 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-0 by Rômulo (Leipzig), 13 percent
Most pressed player: Ezechiel Banzuzi (Leipzig), 10 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Antonio Nusa (Leipzig), +2.65
Fantasy Heroes: Tidiam Gomis (Leipzig, 125 Points), Ørjan Nyland (Leipzig, 116 Points), Antonio Nusa (Leipzig, 115 Points)
