Leipzig held at home by Cologne

RB Leipzig 0-0 Cologne

Leipzig had won all nine of their competitive home games in 2020/21, and it was they who dominated the first half at the Red Bull Arena. Amadou Haidara had the ball in Cologne's net after three minutes, but saw his strike ruled out for offside against Marcel Sabitzer in the build-up. Haidara hit the side-netting after 25 minutes with Leipzig keeping the Billy Goats penned in their own half. Angelino then went within inches of scoring but saw his shot from Haidara’s cross blocked brilliantly by fellow Spaniard Jorge Mere. Leipzig's top-scoring left-back had the best opening of the half moments later, but couldn’t beat Timo Horn after being played in one-on-one. Cologne were happy to work on the counter-attack and created a big chance of their own, but Dominik Drexler couldn't bury Noah Katterbach’s cross at the end of the first half.

Dani Olmo and Emil Forsberg were introduced at the break with Nagelsmann looking to bring new energy to his side's attack from the get-go. Leipzig remained on the front foot with Forsberg dragging a shot wide from Angelino's set-up. The hosts were being met by a superb Cologne defensive front, but Kevin Kampl should have opened the scoring when he was found on the penalty spot by Nordi Mukiele. He couldn't hit the target with his left-footed shot, though. Dabi Olmo curled a shot wide into the final 20 minutes as Leipzig pushed on for a winner, before Horn kept his side in it with a fine reflex save to deny Willi Orban's header from close range. Alexander Sorloth almost set up Forsberg for a late winner but in the end, Cologne came closest to snatching the win with Jan Thielmann having a shot deflected behind off Dayot Upamecano in added time.

• This is the first game involving Cologne which has ended 0-0 since their most recent promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019.
• This is just the second time Leipzig have failed to score in the Bundesliga in 2020. The other was in defeat to Borussia Dortmund in June.
• Leipzig are unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga matches (W4, D3).
• Cologne have the best away record of any team in the bottom third of the table (W2, D3, L1).
• As assistant coach to Gisdol, Nagelsmann helped former club Hoffenheim avoid relegation in 2013/14, thanks to a final-day win over Borussia Dortmund.
• Gisdol was unbeaten in three career meetings with Nagelsmann, before last season when Cologne lost home and away to Leipzig.

Watch: Adams: “Not good enough for our standards”

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Orban, Upamecano, Halstenberg - Adams, Kampl (Borkowski 82') - Mukiele, Haidara (Sorloth 62'), Sabitzer (c) (Olmo 46'), Angelino - Poulsen (Forsberg 46')
Unused subs: Martinez, Martel, Wosz
Out: Henrichs (knee), Hwang (not included), Klostermann (knee), Kluivert (calf), Konate (ankle), Laimer (knee), Nkunku (ankle), Samardzic (not included)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Cologne: T. Horn (c) - Wolf (Schmitz 85'), Mere, Bornauw, Katterbach (J. Horn 90') - Özcan, Skhiri, Rexhbecaj - Thielmann, Duda, Drexler (Hector 72')
Unused subs: Zieler, Arokodare, Limnios, Ehizibue, Modeste, Sörensen
Out: Andersson (knee), Cestic (muscular), Czichos (groin), Ehizibue (not included), Jakobs (muscular), Kainz (knee)
Coach: Markus Gisdol