Thanks to Timo Werner's goal-scoring spirit, Bundesliga club RB Leipzig have fulfilled their duty in the race for Champions League qualification. Led by the strong international, Leipzig defeated FC Augsburg 28-3 (2-3) on Matchday 1 and collected important points for their renewed participation in the Champions League. The comeback of the recently ailing playmaker Christopher Nkunku crowned the successful afternoon for RB.
Augsburg, who had to make do without several key players such as national player Mergim Berisha, Ermedin Demirovic and goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz, remain winless for the fifth time in a row.
Kevin Kampl (10th) and Werner (32nd/35th), who scored his Bundesliga goals 99 and 100 (of the active players only Thomas Müller and Marco Reus have more), turned the game around for the DFB Cup winners, who had fallen behind early on through Arne Maier (5th). Ruben Vargas (82') scored the second goal.
Leipzig had started with momentum. Gikiewicz substitute Tomas Koubek was immediately challenged when Dominik Szoboszlai (3rd) finished free from an acute angle after Werner's pass. There was no celebration – instead, the early shock followed: In FCA's first attack, Leipzig's defensive set-up was flawed, Maier took advantage of the free space in the penalty area and scored to take the lead.
Tension in the final phase
Nevertheless, Leipzig remained the active team and quickly rewarded themselves. After another good preparatory work by Werner, who asserted himself over the right wing and played his speed, Kampl brought Leipzig back into the encounter.
RB continued to shift the game strongly into the Augsburg half. Leipzig sometimes didn't make enough of the big plus in possession, but could rely on Werner. The attacker first scored to take the lead and shortly afterwards added something worth seeing. It was the 27-year-old's second Bundesliga brace of the season. Leipzig pulled back a bit until the break, but did not get into trouble defensively.
RB had everything under control even after the change of sides. The Saxons patiently looked for gaps in the build-up to the game, but did not have to take any risks. Augsburg, for its part, had big problems in attack, rarely found solutions and often gave away possession after a few stops. Great opportunities were in short supply. Only the Vargas goal made the game exciting again. Nkunku should provide new impetus on the Leipzig side. The French attacking star celebrated a 20-minute comeback after an injury break of several weeks.