Bundesliga
Leipzig's Champions League last-16 hopes ended
RB Leipzig can no longer qualify for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 following a late 3-2 loss to Aston Villa.
RB Leipzig 2-3 Aston Villa
Goals: 0-1 McGinn 3’ (assist: Watkins), 1-1 Openda 27’ (assist: Seiwald), 1-2 Durán 53’ (assist: Tielemans), 2-2 Baumgartner 62‘ (assist: Openda), 2-3 Barkley 85‘
Leipzig’s pursuit of their first point in this season's Champions League did not get off to a promising start against Villa, with the Saxony side also needing win to have any hope of staying in the competition. From the first whistle, it seemed that Die Roten Bullen would be in for more disappointment after their 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan last time out, as Villa captain John McGinn opened the scoring for the visitors in the third minute. The visitors dominated for a spell, but Leipzig were gifted a way back into the game inside half an hour as a defensive mix-up allowed Loïs Openda to run through unnoticed, touch the ball round Emiliano Martínez in the Villa goal and finish into an empty net. The half finished in an end-to-end fashion, with neither side able to take the lead.
The game showed no signs of slowing after half-time, either. Villa super-sub Jhon Durán replaced Ollie Watkins, making his presence felt with a thunderous long-range goal in the 53rd minute. But again, Leipzig responded in kind. Openda, who was their biggest threat all game, received a long ball in the left channel and floated a cross towards the back post, which the arriving Christoph Baumgartner just managed to reach, converting with a supremely clever finish less than 10 minutes after going behind. The home side had their tails up and went hunting for the all-important three points, with chances for Openda, Antonio Nusa and second-half substitute André Silva. But it was to be heartbreak again as a huge deflection from a Ross Barkley shot wrong-footed Peter Gulácsi late on, restoring Villa’s lead and making it mathematically impossible for Leipzig to progress in the competition, with no points on the board from the first six of eight matchdays.
Match stats
- Benjamin Šeško has scored three of Leipzig's four Champions League goals this season. Among teams to have netted more than once, the Slovenian has accounted for a higher percentage of his team's goals than any other player in 2024/25 (75 percent).
- Openda is just one goal (eight) behind Šeško (nine) in all competitions in 2024/25, but the Belgian is yet to fire in this season's Champions League.
- Leipzig have averaged 386 high-intensity pressures per game in this season's Champions League - the second-most of any team in the tournament behind Sturm Graz (392.4).
- However, Die Roten Bullen's seven-match winless run is their longest in the Champions League since debuting in the competition in 2017/18.
- This was Villa's first European away game against German opposition since December 2008, when they lost 3-1 to Hamburg in the now defunct UEFA Cup.
- Leon Bailey registered 28 goals and 21 assists in 119 Bundesliga appearances, contributing three goals across eight meetings against Leipzig.
Teams
Leipzig: Gulácsi - Geertruida, Seiwald, Orbán (c), Henrichs - Baumgartner, Vermeeren (Klostermann 84’), Haidara (Kampl 46’), Nusa – Šeško (Silva 76’), Openda
Unused subs: Vandevoordt, Sakar, Jatta, Gebel
Out: Bitshiabu (muscular), Castello (suspended), Elmas (hamstring), Ouédraogo (thigh), Poulsen (thigh), Raum (ankle), Xavi (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose
Villa: Martínez – Cash (Nedeljković 71’), Konsa, Torres, Diego Carlos, Digne (Maatsen 83’) - Kamara, Tielemans (Barkley 83’) - Rogers, McGinn (c) (Buendía 76’) – Watkins (Durán 46’)
Unused subs: Gauci, Olsen, Mings, Philogene, Onana, Bogarde, Swinkels
Out: Hause (knee), Ramsey (hamstring)
Coach: Unai Emery
As it happened!
2 - 3(1 - 1)
Leipzig
FINAL
Villa
90' +3
vs
Openda rushes it
A poor clearance from Maatsen falls to Openda, just inside the box. The Leipzig forward rushes his finish, though, slicing it well wide of the target.
89'
vs
Effort from Nusa
The winger wriggles free into the box and gets a low shot away towards the front post, but the Villa keep is down quickly to make the save. Leipzig don't make anything of the subsequent corners.
85'
vs
Barkley restores Villa's lead
The Englishman had only just come on. He picks the ball up on the edge of the box and hits a speculative effort. It takes a huge deflection off Seiwald, wrong-footing Gulácsi and nestling in the left of the goal.
85'
vs
Openda breaks
The striker picks the ball up down the left channel. He gets into the box and shoots, but his effort is blocked.
84'
vs
Lukas Klostermann
Arthur Vermeeren
83'
vs
Ian Maatsen
Lucas Digne
83'
vs
Ross Barkley
Youri Tielemans
82'
vs
Openda should've scored!
Torres gives the ball away carelessly at the back for Villa. Openda pounces on the loose ball and has a one-on-one with Martínez, but he hits it straight at the Villa keeper.
81'
vs
Henrichs booked
The defender receives a yellow card for a late challenge on Durán.
81'
vs
Benjamin Henrichs
81'
vs
Openda takes...
...but it's straight into the wall, and Villa clear the second ball.
79'
vs
Diego Carlos
79'
vs
Free-kick to Leipzig
Diego Carlos fouls Openda right on the edge of the Villa penalty area giving Leipzig a set-piece in a very good position.
77'
vs
Corner to Villa
Digne takes, finding Torres' head, but the effort is wide.
76'
vs
André Silva
Benjamin Šeško
76'
vs
Emiliano Buendía
John McGinn
75'
vs
Durán goes through
He drives at the Leipzig goal and has McGinn to his left, but opts to go alone. His shot is blocked, however.
73'
vs
What a stop by Gulácsi!
Rogers drives at the Leipzig defence. He plays a one-two with McGinn before laying it off for Digne at the far post, who was free. His effort back across goal forces a spectacular save out of Gulácsi. The veteran goalkeeper then does excellently to tip the subsequent corner round the post again.
71'
vs
Kosta Nedeljković
Matty Cash
67'
vs
Snap-shot by Durán
Kamara plays it to the forward on the edge of the Leipzig box. His wild, left-footed effort is high and well wide.
62'
vs
Baumgartner brings it level again!
Openda is played through down the left channel with a long ball over the top. Martínez is hesitant to come off his line, and Openda cuts back, holds the ball up well and curls a floating cross towards the back post. Baumgartner is arriving and just manages to reach the cross, finishing with a clever effort to chip it back across goal and beyond the Villa keeper. What a goal!
58'
vs
Durán's second disallowed
The Villa striker thought he had a brace. A ball over the top to Cash, is squared immediately to Durán in the middle, who finishes from inside 12 yards. VAR chalk it off, however, for an offside in the build-up.
57'
vs
Nusa does well
The winger beats a couple of Villa players down the left wing to get to the byline, before crossing. Play is then called back, with the referee judging the ball to have stricken Nusa on the arm.
55'
vs
Over from Rogers
The goal has lifted Villa - the visitors are looking very confident. This time Kamara picks out Rogers on the edge of the Leipzig box, who fakes his shot, cutting onto his left. His subsequent effort is well over, though.
53'
vs
Durán with a screamer!
Villa's super-sub strikes again with another worldie against a German side. He picks up the ball just inside the Leipzig half, drives at the Leipzig defence and lets fly from 30 yards. His curling effort loops over Gulácsi and flies into the roof of the net.
50'
vs
Kamara!
Again Cash is played down the right. He holds the ball up, cuts it back to Tielemans, who then lays it off to Kamara. His left-footed shot from the edge of the box doesn't trouble Gulácsi, though.
48'
vs
First chance for Durán
A Villa corner is cleared by the Leipzig captain, but only as far as another Villa player. The ball eventually falls to the recently introduced Durán on the edge of the box, who slices his shot wide.
46'
vs
Back underway!
Leipzig get the ball rolling again for the second half here.
45'
vs
Lucas Digne
46'
vs
Kevin Kampl
Amadou Haidara
46'
vs
Jhon Durán
Ollie Watkins
45' +1
vs
One added minute
There is to be just one additional minute at the end of this half.
45'
vs
Corner for Leipzig
Openda is played to the byline, before attempting a cut-back to Šeško, but Villa block behind for a corner. Seiwald takes, but Villa clear again.
44'
vs
Watkins through again
This time he holds his run and Tielemans plays him through, but the angle is tighter and his effort is straight at Gulácsi, who holds onto the ball.
41'
vs
Watkins offside
Immediately after the Nusa chance, Villa go up the other end. McGinn plays Watkins through, who breaks behind the Leipzig backline before slotting home between the legs of Gulácsi. He's flagged for offside and a VAR check confirms this to be the correct decision.
41'
vs
Nusa shoots
The winger receives the ball on the left flank. He cuts in, moves the ball onto his right, and lets fly, but Villa get a block in.
35'
vs
Cash goes through
The Villa man gets free down the right flank and has an opportunity to shoot at the Leipzig goal, but his effort is straight at Gulácsi, who tips it behind for a corner. McGinn takes, but Openda clears.
33'
vs
Corner for Leipzig
Baumgartner plays a ball over the top for Openda to chase down the right. He squares it for Henrichs, whose shot is deflected behind for a corner. Seiwald takes, but Villa get it clear.
30'
vs
Watkins gives away a foul
The Villa striker looks as though he's through, but Geertruida comes across well to cover. Watkins is then judged to have fouled the defender, in trying to find a way through.
27'
vs
Openda levels it!
A long ball over the top from Leipzig is aimed towards Openda. It looks as if Diego Carlos will clear or Martínez will claim it, but a mistake in communication allows for Openda to get there first. His first touch chips it over the Villa keeper, before he collects it on the other side and slots home into an empty net. Game on!
25'
vs
Tielemans takes...
...and it drops to Cash, but he's pressed well and he rushes his shot, slicing it wide.
24'
vs
Free-kick to Villa
Henrichs fouls Digne in the left channel outside the Leipzig area. Tielemans takes, but Openda heads behind for a corner.
16'
vs
Through by Haidara
Henrichs plays a one-two with Haidara, but the midfielder's return pass is off target.
14'
vs
Wide from Tielemans
Another quick counter-attack from Villa culminates in Tielemans picking the ball up on the edge of the Leipzig box. He shoots, but drags his shot wide.
11'
vs
Rogers shoots
Vermeeren gives the ball away in midfield. Rogers shoots from the edge of the Leipzig area, but it's straight at Gulácsi.