Bundesliga
Nkunku-inspired Leipzig win DFB Cup!
Christopher Nkunku scored one and made another as RB Leipzig beat Eintracht Frankfurt to win the DFB Cup for the second season in a row.
RB Leipzig 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Nkunku 71' (assist: Olmo), 2-0 Szoboszlai 85' (assist: Nkunku)
Holders Leipzig started on the front foot as Dominik Szoboszlai fed Timo Werner, who could only roll his first-time strike from inside the Frankfurt area straight at Kevin Trapp. A Philipp Max free-kick caused problems for the Leipzig rearguard as Eintracht threatened for the first time, but Tuta could not direct his effort on target. Willi Orban intervened to stop Randal Kolo Muani tearing away on the break moments later, with Frankfurt's talisman firing into the side netting soon after. Nkunku fired wide via a deflection towards the end of a competitive first half short of clear-cut opportunities.
Orban was in the right place at the right time once more after the restart, this time getting in the way of Kolo Muani's attempted cut-back and the unmarked Daichi Kamada in the Leipzig penalty box. Janis Blaswich then had to be alert to beat away a fierce Mario Götze volley. That sparked a response from Leipzig, who forged ahead with 71 minutes on the clock. Szoboszlai and Dani Olmo combined to work the ball into the area for Nkunku to unleash a curling strike that took two deflections before nestling into the back of the net past the wrong-footed Trapp. Nkunku then turned provider for Szoboszlai to stick away a composed finish and put the seal on Leipzig's successful title defence.
Match stats
- Nkunku has struck 23 times in all competitions in 2022/23, breaking the 20-goal barrier for the second season in a row.
- Leipzig are the seventh different team to win back-to-back DFB Cups. They have not lost in the competition in 12 matches since losing the 2020/21 final.
- Marco Rose oversaw his 28th win in 41 competitive matches since replacing Dominico Tedesco as Leipzig head coach on 8 September 2022.
- Kolo Muani finished as the 2022/23 DFB Cup top scorer on six goals, one more than Werner.
- Oliver Glasner coached Eintracht for the last time (P49: W21, D12, L16).
- Kamada played his 179th and final game for Frankfurt.
Teams
Leipzig: Blaswich - Henrichs, Klostermann, Orban (c), Halstenberg - Olmo, Laimer, Haidara (Schlager 77'), Szoboszlai - Nkunku, Werner (Poulsen 61')
Unused subs: Nyland, Simakan, Forsberg, Raum, Ba, Diallo, Kampl
Out: Gulacsi (knee), Gvardiol (suspended), Silva (thigh)
Coach: Marco Rose
Frankfurt: Trapp (c) - Tuta, Hasebe (Borre 78'), N’Dicka - Buta, Rode (Lindstrom 70'), Sow, Max (Lenz 78') - Kamada, Götze - Kolo Muani
Unused subs: Ramaj, Jakic, Toure, Chandler, Dina Ebimbe, Aaronson
Out: Alario (knee), Smolcic (knee)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
As it happened!
2 - 0(0 - 0)
Leipzig
FINAL
Frankfurt
16'
vs
Muani!
Kolo Muani drives a shot into the side netting from a tight angle at the end of a promising few minutes for Frankfurt. Blaswich had it covered, mind.
15'
vs
Werner OK
Leipzig's physio team has done its job, for now at least...
14'
vs
Werner concern
The Leipzig forward hobbles off, after pulling something with nobody near him...
11'
vs
Frankfurt pace
Buta tries to send Kolo Muani on his way after Frankfurt win back possession in midfield. He's got the pace, but Orban comes across to avert the danger.
10'
vs
Denied!
Leipzig build really well with Laimer and Szoboszlai. It pops up in the box for Olmo after Werner miscontrols, but Buta gets in the way to block the shot.
7'
vs
Chance!
Max floats in a free-kick that causes mass panic in the Leipzig box. Blaswich tries to get something on it as two or three Frankfurt players throw themselves towards the ball, and is grateful to see it go behind for a goal-kick.
4'
vs
Werner!
What a chance for Leipzig! Szoboszlai drives forward and drops a cute pass off for Werner in the box. He only has Trapp to beat, but sends his first-time effort straight at the keeper. The Leipzig forward just didn't get any power on it!
1'
vs
Under way!
The ball's rolling in the 80th DFB Cup final. Leipzig are head to toe in red, Frankfurt in white shirts with black shorts and white socks.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Minute's silence
There's a minute's silence prior kick-off, in memory of the 15-year-old German boy killed as a result of an altercation with an opposition player at a youth tournament in Frankfurt earlier this week.
vs
RB LEIPZIG WINNERS!
There goes the final whistle! RB Leipzig have retained the DFB Cup with a 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt.
90' +2
vs
Frankfurt frustration
Kolo Muani goes in late on Henrichs and that's a booking for the Eintracht striker.
90' +2
vs
Randal Kolo Muani
90'
vs
Time added on
We'll have four added minutes in Berlin.
90'
vs
Kevin Kampl
Dominik Szoboszlai
87'
vs
Frankfurt rally
Here comes Kolo Muani. The striker thumps one at the target from the right but Blaswich is there to parry that one wide.
85'
vs
Game, set and match?
Eintracht give the ball away very cheaply. Henrichs is there to take advantage. The ball is confidently pinged about before Nkunku takes possession and angles one low into Szoboszlai who finds the far corner with a very poised finish.
83'
vs
More Leipzig
More Leipzig pressure. Frankfurt clear but the ball only lands on the right peg of Henrichs. The shot heads towards the corner flag.
81'
vs
Laimer booked
Götze is hacked down by Szoboszlai. Laimer then adds his weight to the situation as the Eintracht midfielder looks to get to his feet. Yellow card for Laimer.
79'
vs
Poulsen leaps
Poulsen rises to meet a corner from the right. His header angles not too far off the target.
81'
vs
Konrad Laimer
78'
vs
Rafael Borré
Makoto Hasebe
78'
vs
Christopher Lenz
Philipp Max
77'
vs
Xaver Schlager
Amadou Haidara
75'
vs
Rode change felt?
Interesting to note that Eintracht's problems began immediately after Rode was replaced by Lindström. Just seconds after that change, Leipzig went ahead. Marco Rose's men are in the clear ascendency now.
73'
vs
Eintracht stunned
Again Leipzig come. Olmo's shot is deflected wide. The corner is then cleared. Eintracht are in a spot of bother here as RBL look to turn the screw.
71'
vs
Leipzig lead
RBL intercept and switch the direction of play in quick time. Olmo snaps a pass to Nkunku, who comes outside and fires low at the target. The France forward's shot takes a huge deflection off Ndicka and hits the back of the net. No chance for Trapp.
70'
vs
Jesper Lindström
Sebastian Rode
66'
vs
Chances coming
The game is starting to open up now. Nkunku and Szoboszlai menace inside the Eintracht area but ultimately just fail to find the right pass and Die Adler hack clear.
64'
vs
Götze batters one
Frankfurt work their way into the Leipzig area. Kolo Muani dinks one up for Götze, who smashes a volley at the target from close range. Blaswich gets his fists right behind that and the ball flies wide.
62'
vs
Nkunku down
Nkunku chases a long ball over the top and feels Tuta's hand on his shoulder. Down goes Nkunku inside the area. There was never enough in that for the referee to consider a foul.
61'
vs
Werner hobbles out
Big disappointment for Werner, who took a clip to his heel earlier and hasn't fully recovered. The Leipzig forward is replaced by Poulsen.
61'
vs
Yussuf Poulsen
Timo Werner
58'
vs
Orban rescues Leipzig
Eintracht are away and the roars go up. Götze slides in Kolo Muani who takes a look to his left and tries to pick out his teammate Kamada. Orban makes a crucial interception. It looked on for Frankfurt there.
54'
vs
Brave Blaswich
Looping ball into the Leipzig box and up goes Blaswich, who is wearing a bandage on his forehead following an earlier knock, to punch clear under pressure from Buta.
51'
vs
Over-enthusiastic Kamada
Now, here's a chance. Götze's in the area and has options. He picks out Kamada, who is a tad over enthusiastic and commits a foul. Chance gone.
49'
vs
Rode warrior
Rode ducks and plants his head straight onto Olmo's swinging boot. No fear from the Eintracht captain, who is back on his feet after a quick rub of his noggin. Wasn't he bandaged up in the Europa League final last year?
47'
vs
Werner sore
Timo Werner's taken a kick to his heel from Hasebe. That's a free kick. Werner's feeling the effects of that as he hobbles around. Nkunku's delivery into the area from the subsequent free kick only finds a Frankfurt head.
46'
vs
Peeeeep!
We're off and running in the second half ...
vs
Teams back out
We're all set for the start of the second half.
vs
Half time
The referee brings an entertaining first half to a close. The DFB Cup final 2022/23 awaits its first goal.
42'
vs
Nkunku has a go
A quick forward thrust from Leipzig and suddenly Laimer has forward runners either side. He picks out Nkunku, whose low drive takes a slight nick to carry it wide. A couple of subsequent RBL corners come to nothing.
38'
vs
Captain Rode
Nkunku with a delicate, pacey pass to Laimer on the flank. In slides Eintracht captain Rode to not only make a superb tackle, but also win a throw in! Now that the Frankfurt fans liked plenty.
32'
vs
Blaswich comfortable
Max wallops a centre from the left into the Leipzig area. The ball pops up into the hands of the leaping Blaswich. It may need a moment of individual class to unlock this one. Let's see.
30'
vs
Kolo Muani claim
Buta powers his way up the touchline. The cut-back is aimed at Kolo Muani, who goes down a little theatrically under the close attention of Laimer. Nothing doing, says the ref, and on we go.
25'
vs
Coaching instructions
Both Glasner and Rose are at the edge of their respective technical areas shouting, pointing, applauding and occasionally catching a glimpse of one another.
22'
vs
Götze set-piece
Kolo-Muani tries to race away down the left and is bundled over by Klostermann: free kick Eintracht. Götze stands over the ball and looks to pick out a teammate. His pass heads low towards the near post and Leipzig can clear that handily enough.