Werner strikes as potent Leipzig wins in Cologne to return to third

Jhon Cordoba claimed the early advantage for the home side but Leipzig scored four in 37 minutes to climb back in the hunt for a Champions League place.

Published : Jun 02, 2020 08:53 IST , Berlin

Rafael Czichos, Dayot Upamecano, and Patrik Schick challenge for the ball during a Bundesliga match between 1. FC Cologne and RB Leipzig on Monday.
Rafael Czichos, Dayot Upamecano, and Patrik Schick challenge for the ball during a Bundesliga match between 1. FC Cologne and RB Leipzig on Monday.
lightbox-info

Rafael Czichos, Dayot Upamecano, and Patrik Schick challenge for the ball during a Bundesliga match between 1. FC Cologne and RB Leipzig on Monday.

RB Leipzig returned to third place in the Bundesliga with an entertaining 4-2 victory at Cologne on Monday.

Jhon Cordoba claimed the early advantage for the home side but Leipzig scored four in 37 minutes, including Timo Werner's 31st in all competitions, to climb back above Borussia Moenchendgladbach and Bayer Leverkusen in the hunt for a Champions League place.

The host's boss Markus Gisdol made four changes from Wednesday's loss at Hoffenheim, starting Rafael Czichos in place of suspended Sebastian Bournaauw, red carded in the defeat.

Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann switched both his wing-backs from Wednesday's draw to Hertha Berlin as Angelino, on loan from Manchester City, and French youth international Nordi Mukiele started.

The home side took an early lead as Cordoba poached for his 10th home goal of the campaign.

Midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj's effort deflected onto the far post and the Colombian finished from the rebound after seven minutes.

READ |

The sides were level 13 minutes later as Schick headed home Angelino's cross.

Things went from bad to worse for Gisdol's men four minutes later as Cordoba was forced off with an injury and replaced by Anthony Modeste.

Leipzig took the lead eight minutes from the break as Christopher Nkunku claimed his first goal since January.

ALSO READ |

Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer played a clever ball into the box and former Paris Saint-Germain attacker Nkunku dinked his finish over the onrushing Timo Horn.

Leipzig went further ahead three minutes into the second-half as Werner, who has been linked with a move to Premier League leader Liverpool, raced clear in a rapid counter-attack and beat Horn with a side-footed finish.

Cologne hit back four minutes later as Leipzig failed to clear outside its area and Modeste curled home a shot.

Leipzig's two-goal lead was re-established less than two minutes later as Spain midfielder Dani Olmo scored his first goal since joining Leipzig in January with a curling shot of his own from the edge of the box.

Substitute Modeste seemed to have won the chance to reduce the advantage with 18 minutes left but was denied a penalty by VAR after Lucas Klostermann's tackle.

Two minutes Modeste then wasted a one-on-one with Peter Gulasci and Nagelsmann's Leipzig held on for three points.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment