Leipzig crush Gladbach on Tedesco debut

RB Leipzig 4-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 1-0 Gvardiol 21' (assist: Angelino), 2-0 Silva 33' (assist: Angelino), 2-1 Bensebaini (88'), 3-1 Nkunku 90'+1 (assist: Brobbey), 4-1 Henrichs 90'+4 (assist: Nkunku)

There appeared to be a spring in the step of Leipzig's players in their first game under Tedesco, and a quick early break saw a Nordi Mukiele shot parried by Yann Sommer and Konrad Laimer send the rebound over with the goal at his mercy. Silva was next in line for a shot on Sommer's goal, but he also missed the target. Nkunku then tested Sommer with Leipzig's next effort, and Gladbach's resistance was finally broken when Angelino swung in a free-kick which Gvardiol met with a diving header that Sommer could not get near. The hosts doubled their lead ten minutes later when Angelino's cross was met at the far post by Silva, and Nkunku almost made it three in a dominant phase of the game for Leipzig. Nkunku put Silva through for another big chance, with a deflection off Nico Elvedi taking the ball just inches wide of the far post for a corner, and Gladbach could count themselves quite lucky not to be trailing as much as they were at half-time against Freiburg last Sunday, when they were 6-0 down.

Emil Forsberg missed several chances to increase Leipzig's advantage early in the second half and Silva hit the woodwork, before Lars Stindl provided the first sign of life for Gladbach. It was too little for Adi Hütter's men, though, as they continued to look more likely to concede than score. Sommer had to make a fine one-handed save to deny Nkunku as Leipzig sought to turn the screw, but they were instead made to sweat when Breel Embolo found a rare gap and gave Peter Gulacsi only his second save to make – with eight minutes of the game to go. Marcus Thuram delivered their third shot of the game a few minutes later as the Foals finally came to life. A goalmouth scramble ended in Ramy Bensebaini bringing Gladbach back into the game with an overhead kick, but their hopes of a recovery lasted only a few minutes before Nkunku dribbled his way through and finally got the goal his performance deserved. Substitute Henrichs lashed in a late fourth to ensure Leipzig picked up their sixth home win of the season to edge towards the top six in their first game under Tedesco.

• Nkunku is Leipzig's most dangerous outlet this season with seven goals and five assists in the Bundesliga. He has been directly involved in a goal (scoring or assisting) in 11 of their last 15 competitive games, and has hit the woodwork more often than anyone else this term (three times).
• Gvardiol opened his Bundesliga account in his 14th Bundesliga appearance.
• Silva has two goals in his past three games, having scored just twice in his previous 12 Bundesliga games.
• Denis Zakaria set a new speed record for a Gladbach player this season, hitting 21.8mph (35.12km/h).
• All six of Leipzig's Bundesliga wins this season have come on home turf, while Gladbach have now lost six on the road.
• It is the first time the Foals have lost three in a row under Hütter.

Watch: Domenico Tedesco on Leipzig's 'huge quality'

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) – Simakan, Orban (Henrichs 63'), Gvardiol – Mukiele, Laimer (Adams 71'), Kampl, Angelino – Forsberg (Szoboszlai 63'), Silva (Brobbey 84'), Nkunku
Unused subs: Martinez, Tschauner, Moriba, Bonnah, Wosz
Out: Haidara (ankle), Halstenberg (ankle), Klostermann (thigh), Novoa (not included), Olmo (muscular), Poulsen (calf), Saracchi (knee)
Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Gladbach: Sommer – Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Hofmann (Benes 54'), Zakaria, Kone, Scally – Stindl (c) (Plea 76'), Thuram – Embolo
Unused subs: Sippel, Kramer, Herrmann, Wolf, Lainer, Netz, Neuhaus
Out: Beyer (thigh)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Watch: Yann Sommer reflects on a third straight Gladbach defeat