Lethal Leipzig hit eight in record win over Mainz

RB Leipzig 8-0 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Sabitzer (5’), 2-0 Werner (30’), 3-0 Nkunku (35’), 4-0 Halstenberg (39’), 5-0 Poulsen (44’), 6-0 Werner (48’), 7-0 Mukiele (50’), 8-0 Werner (87')

A 6-1 midweek win at Wolfsburg in the DFB Cup had suggested that Leipzig were returning to form, and Julian Nagelsmann’s side picked up where they left off with a dominant opening here. Timo Werner created the first goal, drilling a low cross across the six-yard box that the in-form Marcel Sabitzer bundled home despite Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner’s best efforts. Werner and Yussuf Poulsen came close as the home side continued to boss proceedings but midway through the half Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi made a sharp save with his feet after Mainz defender Alexander Hack got his head to a corner. On the half-hour, however, Leipzig doubled their lead thanks to a clinical four-man counter. Poulsen released Christopher Nkunku on the left, and when Zentner couldn’t reach his low centre, Werner was on hand to squeeze the ball in at the back post. Five minutes later the Germany international turned provider for Nkunku, as the Frenchman smashed home from the edge of the area for his third of the campaign. A rampant and ruthless Leipzig then made it four with six minutes to go until half-time. It was another flowing move, with Denmark international Poulsen’s cutback from the right just behind Nkunku but swept home gleefully by left-back Marcel Halstenberg. Mainz sent on midfielder Danny Latza for striker Adam Szalai before the break in a bid to limit the damage, but Poulsen got a fifth on the rebound after Sabitzer was denied by Zentner.

Three minutes after the restart Werner raided down the left once more and slotted past the luckless Zentner for his eighth goal of the campaign. The 23-year-old soon had his third assist of the game, with his deep cross from the left headed home by defender Nordi Mukiele. Robin Quaison did get the ball in the net soon afterwards for Mainz but – to sum up their day – his goal was swiftly ruled out for offside. The pace dropped after that but a defensive mix-up late on allowed Lukas Klostermann to square for Werner, who completed his second hat-trick of the season to cap a breathtaking individual and team performance. After their biggest-ever win in the Bundesliga, Leipzig are up to third in the table behind Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund.

• Werner now has nine goals in 10 Bundesliga games this season. He has also had a hand in 17 of Leipzig’s 23 Bundesliga goals against Mainz, netting 10 himself and providing seven assists.
• Poulsen, Sabitzer and Werner also scored in Leipzig’s previous biggest win in the Bundesliga. That was a 6-0 home victory over Nuremberg in October 2018.
• Mukiele was the 10th different goalscorer for Leipzig in this season’s Bundesliga.
• Leipzig’s run of four Bundesliga games without a win was their longest ever in the top flight.
• Mainz have now scored only four goals and conceded 21 in their six away matches this season. They have lost all of those games apart from a 2-1 win over Paderborn on Matchday 7.
• The 05ers are the only club in Germany’s top three divisions yet to draw a game this season.

Watch: Werner: "An 8-0 is always fun!"

Leipzig: Gulacsi – Klostermann, Mukiele, Upamecano (Ampadu 52'), Halstenberg – Sabitzer (Cunha 62'), Laimer (Haidara 46'), Demme (c), Nkunku – Poulsen, Werner
Unused subs: Mvogo, Forsberg, Ilsanker, Kampl
Out: Lookman (pelvis), Orban (knee), Wolf (ankle)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Mainz: Zentner – Pierre-Gabriel, St. Juste, Hack, Aaron – Baku, Kunde (Brosinski 54'), Öztunali – Boetius (Onisiwo 74') – Szalai (Latza 39'), Quaison
Unused subs: Müller, Maxim, Fernandes, Awoniyi, Burkardt, Barreiro
Out: Bell (ankle), Ji (knee), Mateta (knee), Niakhate (suspended)
Coach: Sandro Schwarz