Timo Werner frustrated as RB Leipzig held by Augsburg

RB Leipzig 0-0 Augsburg

Leipzig’s top scorer Yussuf Poulsen was a late pull-out with a calf injury, but with Germany striker Timo Werner back in the starting line-up the hosts promised to attack and that’s exactly what they did, with little reply, for much of the first half. Poulsen’s depute Matheus Cunha was unlucky not to connect with a Marcel Halstenberg corner early on before Werner was played through for a one-on-one, only for Gregor Kobel to race off his line and quell the danger. Werner then went for goal and missed from a tight angle with Marcel Sabitzer free in the box as the visitors held on. Ralf Rangnick’s men looked sure to open the scoring after Marcel Sabitzer and Werner exchanged a one-two, but Kobel saved the Austrian’s subsequent shot before the flag went up for offside anyway. Werner missed another gilt-edged chance with half-time approaching and Sven Jablonski blew for the interval with the scores at 0-0 and Augsburg significantly more relieved to hear the referee’s whistle.

Tyler Adams slipped another through-ball to Werner at the start of the second half. The striker had the pace to get there first but when he went down under duress from Kevin Danso his penalty claim was waved away. Emil Forsberg replaced Cunha for the final half-hour, making his own long-awaited return from injury, but it was Augsburg who were the next to threaten, with Michael Gregoritsch’s speculative effort from the edge of the box comfortably collected by Kobel’s opposite number, Peter Gulacsi. Rangnick swapped Adams for Bruma late on as Die Roten Bullen loaded their attack. With Augsburg on the back foot Leipzig poured forward, with even left-back Halstenberg having a pair of shots fly narrowly wide. Ibahima Konate flicked another corner onto Sabitzer inside the final ten minutes but the attacker's effort flew over the bar and the hosts had to settle for a goalless draw which keeps them third behind Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

• Leipzig remain on a seven-game unbeaten streak, having picked up 15 of a possible 21 points.
• Before Saturday, Leipzig had averaged three points per game in those in which Adams had featured.
• The Saxony side boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 20 times. Goalkeeper Gulacsi now has 12 clean sheets to his name.
• Werner remains one goal behind Poulsen as Leipzig’s top scorer. He is yet to score at the Red Bull Arena in 2019, though.
• Augsburg have taken points off each team in the current top four this season.
• The teams will meet again in Augsburg in 24 days' time when they face off in the DFB Cup quarter-finals.

Line-ups

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Klostermann, Konate, Orban (c), Halstenberg - Sabitzer, Adams (Bruma 73’), Kampl, Laimer (Augustin 81’) – Cunha (Forsberg 58’), Werner
Unused subs: Mvogo, Saracchi, Ilsanker, Mukiele
Out: Demme (flu), Haidara (knee), Upamecano (knee), Smith Rowe (groin)
Coach: Ralf Rangnick

Augsburg: Kobel - Schmid, Danso, Khedira, Teigl - Baier (c) - Koo, Jensen (Janker 83’), Gregoritsch, Max – Cordova (Richter 59’)
Unused subs: Leneis, Götze, Stanic, Callsen-Bracker, Malone
Out: Framberger (knee), Gouweleeuw (groin), Finnbogason (calf), Hahn (suspended) Luthe (knee), Moravek (groin), Oxford (suspended), Schieber (muscular), Stafylidis (thigh)
Coach: Manuel Baum