Bundesliga
Leipzig fall short in Milan
RB Leipzig's quest for a first UEFA Champions League point of the campaign continues after they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro on Matchday 5.
Inter Milan 1-0 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Lukeba (o.g. 27')
The match was an opportunity for Marco Rose's Leipzig to pick up their first points of the European season after successive defeats in their opening four matches, but things immediately looked difficult as Inter smothered them with a heavy press from the off. Italy wing-back Federico Dimarco menaced down the left as well as with his dead-ball deliveries, and it was from one of his numerous corners - nodded down by Stefan de Vrij and deflected off the heel of an unwitting Castello Lukeba - that the opener came in the 27th minute. Leipzig could only muster half-chances throughout the half and went into the break in dire need of solutions.
Inter delivered more of the same as the second half began, Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Mehdi Taremi all with chances, but Leipzig held firm - thanks in no small part to some solid work from keeper Péter Gulácsi - and grew in confidence as the half played out. With Inter seemingly content to sit back and defend their lead, Rose brought on fresh legs in attack and the chances started to flow for the visitors, with Kevin Kampl and Antonio Nusa trying their luck, but the cutting edge just wouldn't materialise for Die Roten Bullen. Inter thought they had made sure of the result late on when ex-Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram broke and set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan, formerly of Borussia Dortmund, to slot into an empty net, but the offside flag denied them. Nonetheless, the Italians held out for a fifth straight win, leaving Rose & Co. winless.
Match stats
- Before this match, Leipzig had a perfect record in Italy, having beaten Atalanta and Napoli in the 2021/22 and 2017/18 UEFA Europa League respectively.
- Rose oversaw his record-extending 20th Champions League game as Leipzig coach - more than any of his predecessors. Julian Nagelsmann held the previous record (18 matches between 2019/20 and 2020/21).
- Die Roten Bullen are playing Champions League football for the seventh time. They've reached the knockouts on four occasions, going as far as the semi-finals in 2019/20.
- A Bayern team that included Inter's Benjamin Pavard won the Champions League that season. All told, the Frenchman made 163 competitive appearances for the record champions.
- Inter's head-to-head record against German clubs in the Champions League reads: W9, D4, L9.
Teams
Inter: Sommer - Pavard (Bisseck 43'), De Vrij, Bastoni (Augusto 65') - Dumfries, Barella (c), Çalhanoğlu (Mkhitaryan 75'), Zieliński, Dimarco - Taremi (65'), L. Martínez (c) (Arnautović 75')
Unused subs: Di Gennaro, J. Martínez, Buchanan, Asllani, Darmian, Aidoo
Out: -
Coach: Simone Inzaghi
Leipzig: Gulácsi - Geertruida (Gebel 85'), Orbán (c), Lukeba, Henrichs - Baumgartner (Ouédraogo 61') (Vermeeren 70'), Kampl, Haidara (Seiwald 61'), Nusa - Openda, Silva (Šeško 61')
Unused subs: Vandevoort
Out: Bitshiabu (muscular), Elmas (hamstring), Klostermann (thigh), Poulsen (muscular), Raum (ankle), Schlager (knee), Xavi (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose
As it happened!
1 - 0(1 - 0)
Inter
FINAL
Leipzig
0 - 0
End of second half
90' +2
vs
Off-side!
Following some dogged work from Thuram, who worries Lukeba off the ball before working it to Mkhitaryan, the former Dortmund man slots into an empty net - but the goal is ruled out for off-side. Leipzig still have a chance!
90'
vs
Four minutes added on
Long enough for Leipzig to get a leveller!
86'
vs
No danger
Leipzig work a corner short but Kampl's eventual ball into the area is too low to get past the vigilant Inter defence. Wasted chance!
85'
vs
Viggo Gebel
Lutsharel Geertruida
85'
vs
Castello Lukeba
84'
vs
Italian job
Inter have taken their foot off the gas somewhat, sitting back and looking to use Thuram's pace up front to hit on the counter. They are clearly ok with a (another) 1-0 win.
82'
vs
Opportunity lapses
Openda breaks and gets the ball to Geertruida on the edge of the area, but then Leipzig take too long to find an option and Inter get things under control.
80'
vs
Leipzig still in it
Leipzig are not giving up. Seiwald sets up Geertruida with a lovely high ball, and he looks for Orbán in the box, but de Vrij makes a last-ditch tackle. This is more like it from the Leipzigers!
75'
vs
Bundesliga alumni
Both of Inter's latest substitutes - Mkhitaryan (ex-Dortmund) und Arnautović (ex-Bremen) - bring some former Bundesliga energy onto the pitch.
75'
vs
Marko Arnautović
Lautaro Martínez
75'
vs
Henrik Mkhitaryan
Hakan Çalhanoğlu
72'
vs
Marco Rose
72'
vs
Dimarco dangerous again
The Inter wide man crosses for subsitute Thuram at the far post, and the resulting angled header is only just wide. Close call!
70'
vs
Ouédraogo can't continue
The Leipzig youngster makes way for Vermeeren. Hopefully his injury isn't too serious.
70'
vs
Arthur Vermeeren
Assan Ouédraogo
69'
vs
Best chance so far
Çalhanoğlu loses the ball while playing out of defence and Kampl plays a great ball through the middle to Nusa, who shoots with his foot on the right. Sommer has to stretch to his full height to bring down the ball. Leipzig are startting to cook!
69'
vs
Kampl fires
After receivingthe ball in the left half-space, Kampl tries a powerful snap-shot that goes wide but causes some concern for Sommer.
67'
vs
Doesn't look good
Just seconds after coming on, Ouédraogo looks to have injured himself and receives treatment.
65'
vs
Marcus Thuram
Mehdi Taremi
65'
vs
Carlos Augusto
Alessandro Bastoni
61'
vs
Fresh legs!
Leipzig boss Rose rings the changes up front, bringing on Šeško, Seiwald and Ouédraogo for some fresh impetus up front.
61'
vs
Assan Ouédraogo
Christoph Baumgartner
61'
vs
Benjamin Šeško
André Silva
61'
vs
Nicolas Seiwald
Amadou Haidara
60'
vs
Signs of life
Under heavy pressure from Barella in the area, Silva looks to sneak the ball to strike partner Openda, but Sommer drops smartly to cut it out.
57'
vs
More of the same
The hosts are bringing most of the danger, but Leipzig are still in it...
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The hosts are bringing most of the danger, but Leipzig are still in it...
56'
vs
Taremi nods over
After a period of calm possession, Inter switch the temp and a deft pass from Dimarco sees the hosts burst forward. Dumfries' first-time cross from the right finds Taremi, who rises highest, but his effort goes over the bar. Leipzig breathe a sigh of relief.
53'
vs
Çalhanoġlu fires
Inter's fit-again star player gets the ball outside the area and tries his luck with bobbling low drive that Gulácsi does well to control.
50'
vs
Immense pressure
Knocking the ball around with apparent ease, Inter bear down on Leipzig's goal and just when it seems Martínez will convert Dimarco's sharp cross, Lukeba intervenes. That was close!
47'
vs
Immediate threat
Inter pick up where they left off in the first half, Barella combining with Martínez, who finds Dumfries - but Kampl manages to ruin the party and the Dutchman's shot goes well wide.
46'
vs
We're back!
No changes at half-time.
45' +3
vs
Half-time: Inter 1-0 Leipzig
It has been one-way traffic in the first half, with hosts Inter dominating the ball - and chances on goal - and taking a deserved lead thanks to a combination of danger man Dimarco and some bad luck for Leipzig defender Lukeba. Leipzig need to break the shackles in the second half if they're to break their European duck for the season...
45' +2
vs
No luck
Leipzig finally win a corner but nothing comes if it as the whistle for half-time blows...
43'
vs
Pavard can't continue
It looks like a muscular issue for the former Bayern Munich man, who leaves the field and is replaced by Bisseck.
43'
vs
Benjamin Pavard
Yann Bisseck
41'
vs
Play stops for Pavard
The Frenchman styas down after a challenge and receives treatment.
41'
vs
Lukeba fends off Dumfries
The Leipzig defender does well to hinder Dumfries as the Dutchman looks to break into the area, using his body well to make sure that penalty claims were waved away.
37'
vs
From distance
Zieliński tries his luck from 30 metres out and while it's well hit, it flies well over the target.
34'
vs
Dangerous tackle
The Leipzig midfielder is sanctioned for a sliding tackle.
32'
vs
Christoph Baumgartner
32'
vs
Bastoni drags Openda down
The Inter defender sees yellow after his irregular contact with the Leipzig striker as he looked to break through on goal.
32'
vs
Alessandro Bastoni
31'
vs
Dominant
Inter are allowing Leipzig very little space and very little time on the ball - Marco Rose's side need to find their feet if they are to get back into this match!
27'
vs
Goal!
Inter's relentless pressure pays off as, from a wide Dimarco free-kick, the ball is nodded down by de Vrij and ricochets off Leipzig defender Lukeba's legs and past Gulácsi for a heart-breaking opener.
25'
vs
Leipzig push
The visitors take possession and a deft pass from Lukeba finds an unmarked Geertruida in the area, but his attempted cross finds no takers and Inter clear.
21'
vs
Dangerous free-kick position
Following Baumgartner's foul on Zieliński 25 metres out, Çalhanoġlu takes charge of dead-ball duties but fires his effort into the Leipzig wall.
17'
vs
Openda shows a glimpse
Now Leipzig are on the offensive. Openda has the ball on the left. He uses a clever body move to get past Barella, but is then cleanly stopped by de Vrij.
13'
vs
Another corner
Inter are staying on the front foot here, dominating possession and racking up the corners. Dead-ball man Dimarco is in the thick of it, working a one-two with Çalhanoġlu and firing a curling effort just wide.
11'
vs
Benjamin Pavard