Bundesliga
Sorloth keeps Leipzig's last-16 hopes alive
RB Leipzig are guaranteed UEFA Europa League football in the new year, but could yet qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds after substitute Alexander Sorloth scored an injury-time goal to seal a 4-3 win away to Istanbul Basaksehir.
Istanbul Basaksehir 3-4 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Poulsen (26’), 0-2 Mukiele (41’), 1-2 Kahveci (45’+3), 1-3 Olmo (66’), 2-3 Kahveci (72’), 3-3 Kahveci (85’), 3-4 Sorloth (90’+2)
Third in Group H at the start of play, 2019/20 semi-finalists Leipzig set their stall out to attack as Emil Forsberg shot wide from 15 yards and Nordi Mukiele forced a sharp save out of Mert Günok inside the opening five minutes. Günok thwarted Yussuf Poulsen and Forsberg threatened once more, before Leipzig got the goal their dominance so richly deserved when Marcel Sabitzer’s 20-yard effort deflected in off Poulsen. Mukiele combined with Forsberg to add a second, but not before Peter Gulacsi had kept out ex-Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba from close range.
Leipzig’s advantage was halved late in the first period when Irfan Kahveci scored his first of the contest. Edin Visca ballooned over and had an effort ruled out early in an entertaining second half, either side of promising openings for Angelino and Forsberg. Leipzig restored their two-goal lead through Dani Olmo, but Kahveci scored twice, completing his hat-trick six minutes after Poulsen had struck the woodwork from a tight angle. Sorloth had the final say, though, opening his Leipzig account two minutes into added time, with a goal that gives Die Roten Bullen every hope of reaching the last 16 going into their final group outing at home to Manchester United.
Match stats
- Poulsen scored his first Champions League goal on his 17th appearance.
- Mukiele also got his first goal in Europe.
- Leipzig's 13 shots in the first half was the most they've ever had in a Champions League away game.
- Sorloth scored his maiden goal for Leipzig. He got 33 in 49 appearances whilst on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor last season, including one in injury time against Basaksehir.
- This was Leipzig's first away win in the Champions League this season. They won three of their four away games in term, drawing the other.
- Basaksehir have failed to win five of six meetings with Bundesliga clubs (D2, L3).
Line-ups
Basaksehir: Günok - Rafael, Skrtel (Epureanu 46'), Ponck, Bolingoli (Chadli 36') - Visca (c) (Giuliano 65'), Özcan (Tekdemir 46'), Kahveci, Türüc - Gulbrandsen (Crivelli 84'), Ba
Unused subs: Babacan, Kivanc, Kaldirim, Topal, Aleksic, Kaplan, Karakus
Out: Caicara (Achilles tendon)
Coach: Okan Buruk
Leipzig: Gulacsi - Mukiele, Upamecano, Konate - Haidara (Orban 90'+4), Sabitzer (c), Kampl (Adams 46'), Angelino - Olmo (Kluivert 88'), Forsberg (Sorloth 65') – Poulsen
Unused subs: Tschauner, Martinez, Samardzic, Halstenberg, Borkowski, Martel, Wosz
Out: Henrichs (knee), Hwang (not included), Klostermann (knee), Laimer (knee), Nkunku (personal reasons)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened
3 - 4(1 - 2)
Basaksehir
FINAL
Leipzig
vs
LEIPZIG HAVE DONE IT!
A massive, dramatic win for RB Leipzig away at Istanbul Basaksehir! They were by far the better side and thoroughly deserve the three points that move them above PSG before their game in Manchester shortly. It means their fate is in their own hands for Matchday 6, although they are at least guaranteed a place in the Europa League for the new year. But the Champions League last 16 is in sight.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
90' +4
vs
Willi Orban
Amadou Haidara
90' +2
vs
SORLOTH'S DONE IT!
Surely the winner for Leipzig! Ball up to the big striker, he takes a touch, gets it out of his feet and fires a left-footed effort past Günok for his first Leipzig goal. And what a big one it is!
90'
vs
ADDED TIME
Three extra minutes.
90'
vs
OFF THE BAR!
Günok rather bizarrely punches a Sabitzer free-kick into the face of Sorloth and the ball bounces up onto the crossbar! So close for Leipzig!
89'
vs
Rafael
88'
vs
Justin Kluivert
Dani Olmo
88'
vs
SPACE OPENING UP
Basaksehir have to win tonight to keep their qualification hopes alive. It could open up some space in behind for Leipzig to restore the lead.
85'
vs
BASAKSEHIR LEVEL
A hat-trick for Kahveci as he curls a free-kick over the wall and off the underside of the crossbar.
84'
vs
Enzo Crivelli
Fredrik Gulbrandsen
79'
vs
OFF THE POST!
Inches away from a fourth for Leipzig as Poulsen lobs Günok from the tightest of angles, only to see the ball bounce to safety off the far post.
78'
vs
Mahmut Tekdemir
72'
vs
ANOTHER BACK
Kahveci again brings Basaksehir back to within one goal, curling one into the far corner on his left foot. The Turkish side's fourth goal of the campaign from outside the box - they've only netted five in total.
72'
vs
THREE ON THE ROAD
This is only the second time Leipzig have scored three goals in a Champions League away game. The first was in the 4-1 win at Monaco three years ago.
65'
vs
SORLOTH ON
Julian Nagelsmann sends on Alexander Sorloth, who was the top scorer in the Turkish league last season.
67'
vs
Dani Olmo
66'
vs
OLMO MAKES IT 3-1!
He's been quiet so far but Dani Olmo has popped up at a crucial moment for Leipzig. He picks up Angelino's throw, cuts inside his man and drives his shot past Günok at his near post.
65'
vs
Alexander Sørloth
Emil Forsberg
64'
vs
Giuliano
Edin Visca
64'
vs
OFFSIDE
Basaksehir have the ball in the back of the net as Visca rounds Gulacsi, but he knew he was well offside.
61'
vs
FORSBERG!
An even bigger chance for the Sweden international as he gets across the front post and onto Mukiele's low ball from the right, but somehow puts it wide!
60'
vs
ANGELINO!
A low driven effort from Leipzig's top scorer and he forces a smart save out of Günok.
55'
vs
Deniz Türüc
55'
vs
BIG CHANCE
Basaksehir's best attack of the game as Chadli bends a low cross across the face of goal. The captain Visca is unmarked at the back but somehow puts his effort over.
53'
vs
BLOW FOR LEIPZIG
Dayot Upamecano is shown yellow for a tackle on Gulbrandsen and will miss next Tuesday's final group game at home to Manchester United.
53'
vs
Dayot Upamecano
50'
vs
CLOSE FOR THE HOSTS
Substitute Epureanu is unmarked at a corner and gets his head to the cross, but puts it wide.
46'
vs
HALF-TIME CHANGES
Tyler Adams replaces Kevin Kampl in the Leipzig midfield for the second half. It's two new faces for the hosts at the break with Mahmut Tekdemir and Alexandru Apureanu replacing Berkay Özcan and Martin Skrtel.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
46'
vs
Tyler Adams
Kevin Kampl
46'
vs
Alexandru Epureanu
Martin Skrtel
46'
vs
Mahmut Tekdemir
Berkay Özcan
vs
RECORD
Leipzig's 13 attempts on goal so far is the most they've ever had in the first half of a Champions League away game.
vs
COMMANDING
Julian Nagelsmann will be annoyed with that. His side have dominated Basaksehir over the first 45 minutes and were deservedly 2-0 up before that injury-time corner. You'd think the message will be for more of the same.
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +3
vs
ONE BACK
Well that came from nowhere. Basaksehir cut a corner back to Kahveci coming from deep and he fires it through the crowd of bodies and into the back of the net.
45'
vs
ADDED TIME
Three minutes of it at the end of the first half.
41'
vs
MUKIELE DOUBLES UP!
Forsberg and Mukiele combine once more, this time with an end product. The Swede is on the floor as he plays the ball across the penalty area with the full-back arriving and putting his effort back across goal with his left foot. He has a first European goal and Leipzig have a two-goal cushion in Istanbul.
38'
vs
Martin Skrtel
37'
vs
GULACSI!
He's been a spectator for all of this game but Peter Gulacsi has pulled out a great reaction save with his right hand to deny Demba Ba on the spin and keep Leipzig ahead.
36'
vs
Nacer Chadli
Boli Bolingoli