Angelino scored twice as RB Leipzig opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir. - © getty images
Angelino scored twice as RB Leipzig opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir. - © getty images
bundesliga

Angelino double fires RB Leipzig to comfortable win over Istanbul Basaksehir

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Manchester City loanee Angelino scored both goals as RB Leipzig opened their 2020/21 UEFA Champions League campaign with a composed 2-0 win over defending Turkish Süper Lig champions Istanbul Basaksehir.

RB Leipzig 2-0 Basaksehir
Goals: 1-0 Angelino (16'), 2-0 Angelino (20')

Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi didn’t have too much to do in a fairly one-sided first half. Instead the stage belonged to Angelino. The Man City-owned wing-back opened the scoring with a superb turn and finish beyond Mert Günok, before doubling his tally four minutes later. Yussuf Poulsen was involved again, supplying the pass prior to Christopher Nkunku’s incisive lay-off for Angelino to sweep past the wrong-footed Günok. The Spain U21 international tickled the side netting as he went in search of his hat-trick, while Dayot Upamecano and Dani Olmo also threatened to get in on the act.

Julian Nagelsmann introduced summer signing Hwang Hee-chan at the break, and the South Korea international immediately set about making his presence felt with a shot Günok managed to gather at the second attempt. The former Red Bull Salzburg forward was at it again around the hour-mark, but opted for one turn too many as the visiting goal opened up. In search of a third goal, Nagelsmann turned to US international Tyler Adams and Roma loanee Justin Kluivert. It wasn’t forthcoming, but Leipzig were never troubled either and will travel to Manchester United on Matchday 2 as Group H leaders.

Match stats

  • Angelino is Leipzig's top scorer this season in all competitions with four goals. All have fallen across Leipzig's last three outings - all have ended in wins to nil.
  • Leipzig are competing in the Champions League for the third time in four seasons since their promotion to the Bundesliga. They reached the semi-finals in 2019/20.
  • Nagelsmann is overseeing Champions League group-stage football for the third time in his career. He is 33.
  • Die Roten Bullen top Group H on goal difference ahead of Man Utd, who won 2-1 away to Paris Saint-Germain.
  • Adams made his fourth Champions League appearance.
  • Basaksehir's Demba Ba registered 40 goals and 14 assists in 106 competitive appearances for Hoffenheim between August 2007 and May 2011, while Junior Caicara spent the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons at Schalke, making 41 appearances in all competitions.

Line-ups

Leipzig:  Gulacsi - Orban, Upamecano (Konate 66'), Halstenberg - Mukiele, Forsberg (Hwang 46'), Kampl (Adams 58'), Angelino - Olmo (Henrichs 70'), Nkunku (Kluivert 70') - Poulsen (c)
Unused subs: Tschauner, Martinez, Sabitzer, Sorloth, Samardzic, Borkowski
Out: Hartmann (knee), Klostermann (knee), Laimer (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann 

Basaksehir: Günok - Caicara (Özcan 30'), Skrtel, Epureanu, Bolingoli - Rafael, Topal (Ba 67'), Kahveci (Aleksic (83') - Visca (c), Crivelli, Turuc (Giuliano 84')
Unused subs: Babacan, Kivanc, Tekdemir, Gulbrandsen, Ponck, Kaplan, Karakus
Out: Azubuike (knock), Chadli (knock), Kaldirim (knock), Sengezer (shoulder)
Coach: Okan Buruk

As it happened

Leipzig 2-0 Basaksehir
Goals: 1-0 Angelino (16'), 2-0 Angelino (20')
Leipzig: Gulacsi - Orban, Upamecano (Konate 66'), Halstenberg - Mukiele, Forsberg (Hwang 46'), Kampl (Adams 58'), Angelino - Olmo (Henrichs 70'), Nkunku (Kluivert 70') - Poulsen (c)
Basaksehir: Günok - Caicara (Özcan 30'), Skrtel, Epureanu, Bolingoli - Rafael, Topal (Ba 67'), Kahveci (Aleksic (83') - Visca (c), Crivelli, Turuc (Giuliano 84')

FULL-TIME! LEIPZIG 2-0 BASAKSEHIR

Leipzig extend their unbeaten start to 2020/21 to six matches in all competitions, Angelino's quick-fire brace doing the damage at the Red Bull Arena. Basaksehir never really looked like hurting the Bundesliga leaders. Job done!

90' THREE MINUTES ADDED ON

Leipzig have this in the bag. Unless anything changes, they'll be ending the night top of Group H, ahead of Manchester United - who lead PSG 2-1 - on goal difference.

87' YELLOW CARD

Özcan goes into the book for a foul on Hwang. Leipzig aren't in a rush as the clock ticks towards added time...

84' CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

Last roll of the dice for the reigning Turkish champions as Aleksic and Giuliano replace Turuc and Kahveci.

81' GULACSI SWITCHED ON

He's not had much to do, but Gulacsi stands up to Ba in a promising one-on-one for the visitors and comes out on top. The flag belatedly goes up - not that he knew about it.

73' NAGELSMANN PENSIVE

Nagelsmann knows his side are not home and hosed yet. Can young Kluivert - on loan from Roma - work his magic on only his second appearance for the club?

70' FRESH LEIPZIG LEGS

Benjamin Henrichs and Justin Kluivert take to the pitch, with Dani Olmo and Christopher Nkunku making way. The game has gone a touch flat...

67' BA ENTERS THE FRAY

Basaksehir Okan Buruk responds with a change of his own, Demba Ba replacing Topal. The veteran striker registered 40 goals and 14 assists in 106 competitive appearances for Hoffenheim between August 2007 and May 2011.

66' KONATE ON

There's that change. No point taking any risks with Basaksehir desperately searching for a way back into the game.

63' UPAMECANO ON THIN ICE

Upamecano thunders into Crivelli, but escapes unpunished. The Frenchman's already on a yellow, and it looks like he might be about to make way for countryman Konate.

61' IN TWO MINDS

Hwang is in another good position, but can't decide whether to pass or shoot. The chance eventually comes to nothing as Nagelsmann looks on. The former Red Bull Salzburg forward grabbed a debut goal and assist in the DFB Cup first round, but has been restricted to three substitute Bundesliga appearances since.

58' ADAMS ON

Tyler Adams replaces Kevin Kampl in a like-for-like change in the Leipzig midfield. The US international scored the winner against Atleti in last season's quarter-final tie.

57' LEIPZIG ON TOP

PSG have pegged Man Utd back, so it's Leipzig who lead Group H as things stand.

54' HWANG AGAIN

Hwang has the Basaksehir goal in his sights again, but instead opts to play in Poulsen and the move breaks down. Should have been more selfish.

52' HWANG INVOLVED

Hwang shoes good feet to eke out space and fire goalwards. Günok isn't overly convincing, but recovers to claim the ball ahead of Poulsen.

SECOND HALF! LEIPZIG 2-0 BASAKSEHIR

More of the same from Leipzig will do very nicely indeed. Summer signing Hwang Hee-Chan is on in place of Emil Forsberg for the hosts...

HALF-TIME! LEIPZIG 2-0 BASAKSEHIR

Angelino's wand of a left foot is the difference between the two sides at the Red Bull Arena. So far, so good for Leipzig...

41' YELLOW PERIL

Two bookings in quick succession for Messrs Nkunku and Upamecano. Put those down to the commentator's curse!

40' LEIPZIG IN CONTROL

Leipzig showing exactly why they were widely seen as the pre-match favourites. Really mature stuff from Nagelsmann's lot, and they haven't messed about in front of goal either.

35' AROUND THE GROUNDS

In Group H's other fixture, Manchester United have taken the lead away to 2019/20 runners-up Paris Saint-Germain. Leipzig's Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund trail Lazio 2-0 in Group F.

33' CAICARA CROCKED

Basaksehir's Junior Caicara can't continue. The former Schalke defender is replaced by VfB Stuttgart-reared Berkay Özcan.

31' CHANCE FOR THE HAT-TRICK

Angelino is really up for this. He collects Nkunku's corner, before rifling into the side netting. That left foot of his is something else...

30' CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS

Only a flying Günok save prevents Olmo from getting on the scoresheet for Leipzig. At the other end. Gulacsi is made to work by Visca.

28' ANGELINO STREAK

That's four goals in three competitive games for the Man City loanee. Each time, Leipzig have won without conceding. Omens...

20' GOAL! LEIPZIG 2-0 BASAKSEHIR

Angelino at the double! Poulsen's involved again, delaying his pass before releasing Nkunku. He knows exactly where Angelino is, and the Man City loanee duly dispatches another clinical finish beyond Günok. Are you a striker in disguise?!

16' GOAL! LEIPZIG 1-0 BASAKSEHIR

Leipzig lead! Poulsen feeds Kampl, who swiftly rolls the ball into the path of Angelino in the box. He pirouettes as if he's auditioning for a role in the Nutcracker and arrows low and hard into the far corner. Superb goal.

14' PENALTY SHOUT

The visitors want as penalty as Turuc collides with Mukiele, but the referee is unmoved. Basaksehir are growing in confidence...

9' UPAMECANO MOPS UP

An early warning sign of what Basaksehir are about as Visca shifts Günok's long punt into the path of Crivelli. Luckily for Leipzig, the man mountain that is France international Dayot Upamecano is able to intervene.

6' LEIPZIG AGAIN

Günok looks like he's going to be one busy bee as he gets behind Upamecano's header from a corner. Leipzig playing with the confidence of Bundesliga leaders...

4' LEIPZIG SO CLOSE TO THE OPENER

Leipzig could be ahead here. Nkunku whips over a cross from the right towards the feet of Angelino. His goal-bound strike takes a deflection off Caicara, and Günok can consider himself very fortunate to be in a position to put it behind.

KICK-OFF!

Under way at a very wet Red Bull Arena...

THE NAGELSMANN VIEW

"Last year was a wonderful experience - it gave us a real taste for it," Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann told media ahead of the game. "Our main goal is to make it past the group stage. That's the first challenge you have to overcome in the Champions League."

Nagelsmann famously took Hoffenheim into the competition's group stage for the first time in their history, before reaching the last four in his debut season at the Leipzig helm. Not a bad CV for a 33-year-old!

EX-BUNDESLIGA PRESENCE

Former Schalkke right-back Junior Caicara starts for Basaksehir, but ex-Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba and Germany-born Berkay Özcan, who has played for VfB Stuttgart and Hamburg, have to settle for a place on the visiting bench.

OLMO + ANGELINO = GOALS

Dani Olmo has gone from strength to strength since scoring in Leipzig's one-legged quarter-final triumph over Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. The five-time Spain international has produced three assists in four league matches so far this term, with Bayern's Thomas Müller the only man to have provided more. As for Angelino, the pint-sized Spaniard has already scored twice from left wing-back, rekindling the kind of form which took him from PSV Eindhoven to parent club Manchester City in summer 2019.

LEIPZIG TEAM NEWS

As expected, Yussuf Poulsen returns to lead the line after stepping off the bench to do his best impression of Marco van Basten in Saturday's 2-0 win away to Augsburg. Benjamin Henrichs drops to the bench to accommodate the Denmark striker, while Kevin Kampl gets the nod over Tyler Adams. Willi Orban replaces the injured Lukas Klostermann on the right-hand side of Nagelsmann's three-man defence.

BUNDESLIGA LEADERS VS. 18TH IN SÜPER LIG

Leipzig led the Bundesliga standings halfway into 2019/20, but had to settle for a third-placed finish. They've made another flying start to the new campaign, taking 10 points from a possible 12, and lead treble winners Bayern Munich by a point. Basaksehir have four points to show for the first five outings of their Süper Lig title defence, and sit a lowly 18th.

EUROPEAN PEDIGREE

Leipzig are competing in the Champions League for the third time, having failed to finish in the top four only once in their Bundesliga history. Even then, they made the UEFA Europa League. Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid were their big-name victims last season, while Basaksehir - who fell to Copenhagen in the Europa League last 16 - are playing in the tournament for the first time.

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BACK

Little over 60 days since Leipzig's historic run to the semi-finals of the 2019/20 Champions League, Julian Nagelsmann's side are back for a fourth bite of the continental cherry. It's been one hell of a ride for a club only founded in 2009, and they'll be quietly confident of going deep into the knockout rounds once more. Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Turkish champions Basaksehir - visitors to the Red Bull Arena on Matchday 1 - complete a winnable group.