Christoph Baumgartner (r.) and Antonio Nusa (l.) were both on target as RB Leipzig overcame Magdeburg in the DFB Cup. - © Stuart Franklin

2. Bundesliga, bundesliga

RB Leipzig survive early scare against Magdeburg to reach DFB Cup quarter-finals

02.12.2025

Christoph Baumgartner struck twice as RB Leipzig came from behind against Bundesliga 2 side Magdeburg to win 3-1 and reach the DFB Cup quarter-finals.

RB Leipzig 3-1 Magdeburg
Goals: 0-1 Gnaka 11' (pen.), 1-1 Nusa 19', 2-1 Baumgartner 29', 2-1 Baumgartner 54'

Magdeburg might be bottom of Bundesliga 2 at present but they began this game with plenty of belief, stringing plenty of passes together and looking to get forward at every opportunity. They were rewarded for that bold approach early on when Lukas Klostermann brought down Falko Michel inside the penalty area, allowing Silas Gnaka to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

Their lead was shortlived, however, as goals from Antonio Nusa and Baumgartner put the home side in front before the half-hour mark. Leipzig never looked back after that, and Baumgartner scored his second of the game early in the second half to land the decsive blow as Ole Werner's side eased into the last eight.

As it happened!

3 - 1

(2 - 1)

Leipzig

FINAL

Magdeburg

DFB Pokal
Round of 16 Round of 16 Red Bull Arena

Full time: Leipzig 3-1 Magdeburg

After an early scare, it was a comfortable evening’s work for Leipzig in the end. Magdeburg can take heart from a good performance in which they created a few presentable chance, but ultimately Leipzig were just too good. Goals from Nusa and Baumgartner did they trick as Ole Werner’s charges advance to the last eight.

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Goal disallowed

Maksimović puts the ball in the net from a tight angle but a VAR review confirms that he was offside, so it won't count.

88'

Substitution

Andrija Maksimović

Christoph Baumgartner

87'

So close!

Diawara, who's only just come on, sprints forward and gets a shot away that only narrowly flies wide of the post.

82'

Substitution

Kandet Diawara

Lubambo Musonda

82'

Substitution

Max Finkgräfe

Antonio Nusa

78'

Game management

Leipzig are doing their best to help the clock tick along. They're staying solid at the back and aren't getting forward with the same sense of purpose.

74'

Not giving up

To their credit, Magdeburg haven't let their heads hang. They're still playing with the belief that they can get another goal and are still trying to string moves together.

71'

Substitution

Rayan Ghrieb

Laurin Ulrich

70'

Opening for Magdeburg

Atik finds Michel with a terrific forward pass. He gets into the box on the left-hand side but struggles to get his feet right to get a shot away.

66'

Substitution

Tidiam Gomis

Yan Diomande

64'

In control

Leipzig are looking increasingly comfortable now, stroking the ball around with confidence and forcing Magdeburg to chase after it.

60'

Double swap

Will these changes bring fresh impetus to the guests' attacking forays?

59'

Substitution

Herbert Bockhorn

Noah Pesch

59'

Substitution

Maximilian Breunig

Mateusz Zukowski

55'

Baumgartner strikes again

That's surely the knockout blow now, with the visitors now needing two more goals just to force extra time. Nusa dribbles into the box, does a couple of stepovers and then squares the ball to the on rushing Baumgartner, who curls in with the outside of his foot again.

54'

Christoph Baumgartner

GOAL!

3:1

49'

Staying focused

Leipzig appear determined not to let their visitors back into the game, and are pressing high up the pitch to suffocate any attacks before they can even start.

46'

Peeeep!

Here we go again. Two changes for the home side at the break.

Kick-off!

46'

Substitution

Kosta Nedeljkovic

Lukas Klostermann

46'

Substitution

Xaver Schlager

Ezechiel Banzuzi

46'

Substitution

Max Geschwill

Marcus Mathisen

Half-time: Leipzig 2-1 Magdeburg

Leipzig have come from behind to lead at the interval thanks to well-taken goals from Nusa and Baumgartner, but they haven't had things all their own way. Magdeburg struck first and have had a couple of other promising openings on the counter, too.

Half-time

42'

Banzuzi overhead

Harder crosses from the left into the middle. Banzuzi lines up a spectacular bicycle kick - but misses the ball completely.

38'

Route one

Reimann pumps the ball forward and all of a sudden Magdeburg are in again, but Nollenberger can't quite find the target from a tight angle.

34'

Goals in the air

This is the kind of game where you get the sense that more goals are coming, and the next one could be decisive. If Leipzig get it, that could well be game over. But if Magdeburg find the net again, that would likely galvanise them once more.

Baumgartner turns it around!

Nusa finds Harder again, and he squares it to Baumgartner, who curls the ball into the bottom corner with the outside of his right boot. A lovely finish. There's a VAR check for offside against Baumgartner, but the goal is given.

29'

Christoph Baumgartner

GOAL!

2:1

26'

Harder goes one-on-one!

Leipzig really should be in front now! Nusa releases the forward into space and he only has Reimann to beat, but places his shot too close to the goalkeeper, who makes a good save.

24'

Next chance for Magdeburg

Leipzig are exposed once again as Nollenberger gets behind the defence. He wants too long to compose himself before shooting though, giving the hosts enough time to recover and get a block in.

Leipzig equalise!

They haven't been at their best yet in this game but this goal must just kickstart them into action. Diomande shows excellent control to receive a ball from Baumgartner before slipping it into the path of Nusa to smash in off the left-hand post.

19'

Antonio Nusa

GOAL!

1:1

16'

First sight of goal

Harder intercepts an attempted pass out from the back by Reimann and immediately gets a shot away. The angle is very tight though, and the ball sails over.

Magdeburg lead!

They may be bottom of Bundesliga 2 right now but they away side are in front! Gnaka coolly fires the ball into the left-hand corner, leaving Vandevoordt rooted to the spot in the middle.

11'

Silas Gnaka

GOAL!

0:1

Penalty

Penalty to Magdeburg!

Klostermann gets caught out again and is penalised for a foul on Michel.

Chance for Magdeburg!

Nollenberger does brilliantly to control a long diagonal ball and sprint past Klostermann before getting a shot away. It's from a tight angle though, and Vandevoordt is well placed to save.

Early sparring

Leipzig may be expected to dominate here, but in these opening exchanges the ball is swapping sides pretty quickly.

Peeeep!

Here we go!

Kick-off!

Six places remain

Hertha Berlin were the first team to book their spot in the last eight thanks to a 6-1 victory over Kaiserslautern earlier this evening, while St. Pauli also advanced to the quarter-finals after producing an upset to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1.

More on that Leipzig team

Head coach Ole Werner has made three changes following the team's 0-0 draw at Gladbach on Friday, with Vandevoordt (pictured, l.), Klostermann and Banzuzi coming in for Gulácsi, Baku and Schlager.

Leipzig starting XI

Vandevoordt - Klostermann, Orbán, Lukeba, Raum - Seiwald - Banzuzi, Baumgartner - Diomande, Harder, Nusa

Leipzig subs

Gulácsi, Zingerle, Haidara, Nedeljkovic, Schlager, Gomis, Maksimović, Finkgräfe, Konaté

Magdeburg starting XI

Reimann - Musonda, Matrhisen, Müller, Nollenberger - Michel, Gnaka, Ulrich - Pesch, Zukowski, Atik

Magdeburg subs

Kruth, Hoti, Stalmach, Bockhorn, Breunig, Hercher, Geschwill, Ghrieb, Diawara

Magdeburg team news

Magdeburg head coach Petrik Sander, meanwhile, has plenty of injury issues to contemplate. Luka Hyryläinen was a late withdrawal from the squad for the Nuremberg game and could be missing against Leipzig. Alexander Holmström, Daniel Heber, Jean Hugonet, Samuel Loric and Connor Krempicki are all expected to miss out, but Laurin Ulrich could feature after sitting out Saturday's 3-0 win.

Leipzig team news

Germany international Ridle Baku suffered an ankle injury against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday and will miss Tuesday's tie as a result. Striker Rômulo remains sidelined with a tendon issue in his right knee and Timo Werner is also unavailable with a muscle problem, while Assan Ouédraogo, Benjamin Henrichs and El Chadaille Bitshiabu are recovering from long-term injuries. Kevin Kampl is also currently away from the squad due to personal reasons.

Ole Werner on facing Magdeburg

"Magdeburg have embodied a certain style of football for many years. They have many technically strong players on the pitch and they want to play football. They stick to their way of playing, even though they’re having a tougher year. We’re preparing for a team that can also hurt a Bundesliga side."

Petrik Sander on facing Leipzig

"Leipzig are a team from whom we can expect top-level, high-octane football. They have the kind of quality that allows them to compete at the very top of the Bundesliga. Even so, it’s a cup match, and we want to be brave and impose our own playing philosophy."

2:14

Watch: Magdeburg 3-0 Nuremberg - highlights

Bundesliga 2's bottom club registered only their third win in the league this season. They are now just three points from safety as they head to Leipzig looking for an upset.

Head-to-head

These teams have faced off six times in all competitions previously, although never at a level above the Regionalliga, the fourth tier of German football. Leipzig have won four of those encounters - including a 4-0 victory in the teams' last meeting in 2013 - and lost only once.

Magdeburg return to winning ways

After losing three straight Bundesliga 2 games, Magdeburg were victors once more at the weekend as they defeated Nuremberg 3-0. All three goals came late on, with Mateusz Zukowski netting a late brace.

2:03

Watch: Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-0 RB Leipzig - highlights

On Friday night, Leipzig were held to a goalless draw by in-form Gladbach.

Leipzig - the story so far

The 2022 and 2023 DFB Cup winners followed up a 4-2 win at regional league outfit Sandhausen in the first round with a 4-1 success at third-tier Energie Cottbus thanks to a Christoph Baumgartner brace.

Magdeburg - the story so far

The DFB Cup has provided a bit of respite after a difficult start to the Bundesliga 2 season for Magdeburg. They followed a 3-1 win in a tricky opening-round tie at renowned cup specialists Saarbrücken with a comfortable 3-0 success over regional league side Illertissen in the second round.

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the DFB Cup Round of 16 match between RB Leipzig and Magdeburg. The game is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 p.m. CET on Tuesday.