Leipzig beat Frankfurt to reach DFB Cup last eight

RB Leipzig 3-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Šeško (31'), 2-0 Openda (50'), 3-0 Openda (58')

Having failed to win any of their six games in November, drawing three and losing three, Leipzig got back on track in their first outing in December. Marco Rose fielded Openda and Šeško up top in a statement of attacking intent and, after an evenly balanced opening period, it paid off shortly after the half-hour mark. Winning possession deep in the Frankfurt half, Nusa showed incredible balance and agility to skip in from the left past two defenders and feed the ball to Šeško, who, seemingly determined not to be outshone, showed incredible footwork of his own to outwit his marker and put the home side ahead with a composed finish. Frankfurt, second in the Bundesliga table and with the in-form Omar Marmoush up top, were uncharacteristally quiet in attack and failed to have a shot on target in the first half. 

Leipzig extended their lead early in the second period and again it came as a result of their high press. Nusa gathered the ball on the left, jinked into the box and teed the ball up for Openda to finish from close range. The game was effectively over as a contest just eight minutes later when the lively Nusa again picked up possession and flicked it inside to Openda. The Belgium international still had a lot of work to do, but arrowed an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards out. Frankfurt continued to battle as the final whistle approached but never looked like scoring against a dogged home side, who deservedly booked their spot in the last eight.

Match stats

• Leipzig missed the chance to potentially make history as the first team to win three successive DFB Cups after going out to Wolfsburg in last season's second round.
• Die Roten Bullen beat Frankfurt in the 2022/23 DFB Cup final - one of their six competitive wins against the Eagles (D8, L5).
• Openda is Leipzig's biggest goal threat so far this season with eight goals and five assists in all competitions.
• Frankfurt lifted the DFB Cup for the fifth time in 2017/18. In the last 20 years, they have also finished as runners-up on three occasions.
• Nusa provided a trio of assists in this game. 
• Eintracht have now won just one of their 10 trips to Leipzig - 1-0 in last season's Bundesliga - losing five and drawing three.

Teams

Leipzig: Vandervoort - Geertruida, Orbán (c), Seiwald - Henrichs, Vermeeren, Haidara (Schlager 71'), Nusa (Klostermann 84') - Baumgartner, Šeško (Silva 76') - Openda
Unused subs: Gulácsi, Zingerle, Kampl, Jatta, Gebel
Out: Bitshiabu (muscular), Castello (thigh), Elmas (hamstring), Ouédraogo (thigh), Poulsen (thigh), Raum (ankle), Xavi (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose

Frankfurt: Trapp (c) - Collins (Knauff 55'), Tuta, Koch (Højlund 66') - Kristensen, Skhiri, Larsson (Chaïbi 46'), Götze (Nkounkou 55'), Brown (Dahoud 82') - Ekitiké, Marmoush
Unused subs: Santos, Matanović, Uzun, Chandler
Out: Amenda (ankle), Theate (torn lateral ligament)
Coach: Dino Toppmöller

As it happened!