Bundesliga
Xavi on target as Leipzig down Red Star
Xavi's first UEFA Champions League goal helped RB Leipzig consolidate second place in Group G with a comfortable win over Red Star Belgrade.
RB Leipzig 3-1 Red Star Belgrade
Goals: 1-0 Raum 12' (assist: Xavi), 2-0 Xavi 59' (assist: Raum), 2-1 Stamenić 70', 3-1 Olmo 84'
Leipzig set their stall out to attack as Paris Saint-Germain loanee Xavi and Belgium international forward Loïs Openda sent a couple of early sighters off target. David Raum then made it a case of third time lucky by applying a drilled finish to a lightning breakaway. Omri Grazer repelled efforts from Benjamin Henrichs and Yussuf Poulsen, before Red Star had a penalty decision overturned by the VAR. Leipzig almost added a third late in the first half as Raum narrowly missed the target from a free-kick.
Leipzig had to ride a wave of Red Star pressure early in the second period, but gave themselves breathing space with less than an hour gone. Following a run of seven competitive games without a goal, Xavi found the top corner with a rasping strike from 18 yards. Kevin Kampl, Openda and Xavi all tested the reflexes of Grazer, before Marko Stamenić halved the deficit with a goal against the run of play. Normal service was resumed late on, though, as substitute Dani Olmo coverted following a goalmouth scramble. The win lifts Leipzig onto six points at the halfway stage in the groups, five clear of Young Boys and Red Star, and four behind holders Manchester City.
Watch: Xavi wins September Bundesliga Goal of the Month
Match stats
- Xavi scored his first Champions League goal on his third appearance in the competition proper.
- Leipzig's seven goals so far in this season's group stage have all come from different players: Xavi, Raum, Openda, Olmo, Benjamin Šeško, Xaver Schlager and Mohamed Simakan.
- Five different players have provided the assists: Xavi, Raum, Kampl, Poulsen and Henrichs.
- This is Leipzig's sixth year competing in the Champions League. They have made it out of the group stage in three of their five previous campaigns.
- Emil Forsberg is the club's leading appearance maker in the competition with 37 games. Only Christopher Nkunku (11) has more goals for Die Bullen than the Swede (10) for the club.
- Leipzig's overall Champions League record (from group stage on) reads 39 games, 19 wins, five draws, 15 defeats.
Teams
Leipzig: Blaswich - Henrichs (Klostermann 58'), Simakan, Lukeba, Raum - Schlager, Kampl (c) - Forsberg (Baumgartner 58'), Xavi (Olmo 75') - Openda (Šeško 82'), Poulsen (Werner 82')
Unused subs: Gulácsi, Lenz, Haidara, Seiwald, Carvalho
Out: Orban (knee), Bitshiabu (knee)
Coach: Marco Rose
Red Star: Glazer - Dragović (c), Djiga, Rodić (Nedeljković 65') - Mijailović, Stamenić (Katai 81'), Hwang - Ivanić, Mitrović (Lučić 65') - Ndiaye (Mijatović 65'), Olayinka (Bukari 46')
Subs: Popović, Degenek, Spajić, Kanga, Kangwa, Kabić
Out: -
Coach: Barak Bakhar
As it happened!
3 - 1(1 - 0)
Leipzig
FINAL
Red Star
90' +2
vs
Super defensive action by Lukeba
Katai almost reaches a superbly threaded pass from Hwang, but Lukeba does very well to get across and turn the ball behind for a corner.
90'
vs
Werner cuts ball across goalmouth
Leipzig are pushing men forward and Timo Werner does well to drill it right across the goalmouth, but nobody can meet it there. Red Star try to threaten on a break, which is defended well. Four minutes of stoppage time are indicated.
88'
vs
Leipzig looking for a fourth
The Dani Olmo strike appears to have taken the wind out of Red Star's sails, and Leipzig are continuing to find ample space to attack.
84'
vs
Olmo with the third!
That has to be three precious Champions League points in the bag now! Marco Rose made a pair of impact subs in bringing Šeško and Werner on. That paid off right away with Werner charging forward at full gallop and winning a corner. The ball bounced off the crossbar to the feet of Olmo, who just had to tidy it in.
82'
vs
Timo Werner
Yussuf Poulsen
82'
vs
Benjamin Šeško
Loïs Openda
81'
vs
Baumgartner heads just wide
The Austrian gets a good head to a corner whipped in from the left and guides the ball just the wrong side of the post.
80'
vs
Leipzig trying to see this out
The hosts have just taken their foot off the pedal slightly as they prioritise keeping the ball circulating, in the knowledge that will take them closer to the 90-minute mark.
77'
vs
Leipzig have been looking for goals
The hosts have fired over 20 shots tonight, which should be enough to win any game, but Glazer has done a fine job in the Red Star goal.
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The hosts have fired over 20 shots tonight, which should be enough to win any game, but Glazer has done a fine job in the Red Star goal.
75'
vs
Can Olmo seal the deal?
The Spaniard is continuing his injury comeback by coming on for the final 15 minutes plus stoppage time.
75'
vs
Dani Olmo
Xavi Simons
73'
vs
Baumgartner almost heads it in
The Leipzig substitute had a header from close range with the goalkeeper flapping at it, but it flies off the back of Dragovic and goes over the target.
70'
vs
Red Star pull a goal back
Just when they were looking out of it, the visitors pounce. The ball takes a kind deflection from a shot over to Stamenic at the far post, who volleys in from short range. Red Star have probably deserved that with the attacking purpose they've shown, and we could just have a nervy final 20.
67'
vs
Xavi searches for a second
Leipzig are finding the space easy to come by again going forward. The ball falls to Xavi in the box and he guides a drive towards the far post but Glazer extends himself and makes another solid stop.
66'
vs
Solid Simakan
Lucic threatens to get one back for the visitors, but Simakan slides in to stop the Red Star substitute in his tracks in the box.
64'
vs
Openda effort turned behind
They are stepping to try to smash one in the right corner of the net. After Xavi found it and Kampl went close, Openda has a good effort from 25 metres out that Glazer stops with another good save.
62'
vs
Kampl almost finds the corner!
Kevin Kampl has taken one right out of the Xavi playbook there. In an almost identical move to Leipzig's second, albeit a few metres further out, the midfielder cuts inside and drives superbly towards the far post. This time Glazer dives across to turn behind for a corner.
58'
vs
Christoph Baumgartner
Emil Forsberg
59'
vs
Xavi super strike doubles lead!
What a finish! Just when the game was in the balance, Xavi pulls a moment of magic out of the bag, cutting inside on the edge of the D before smashing the ball with an unstoppable drive into the top corner. A great goal at a great time for Leipzig!
58'
vs
Lukas Klostermann
Benjamin Henrichs
57'
vs
Henrichs hammers wide
Forsberg does well to carry the ball right up to the edge of the box and lays it off for Henrichs, who fires powerfully but well wide.
56'
vs
More threat from the visitors
Leipzig have their backs against the wall right now as Red Star break into their box yet again and Ndiaye fires wide from a promising position.
55'
vs
Leipzig in charge - but not in complete control
Leipzig's dominance of the play has been clear, but Red Star are packing a punch when they do come at Leipzig - with a couple of shots from distance fired over Blaswich's goal.
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7030
Leipzig's dominance of the play has been clear, but Red Star are packing a punch when they do come at Leipzig - with a couple of shots from distance fired over Blaswich's goal.
50'
vs
Xavi tries one
The 20-year-old, who is playing with a bandage stuffed in his mouth following that cut, takes the ball towards the visiting goal. The defenders take the ball but it comes back to him, and he tries to twist a shot in but it's blocked.
49'
vs
Lukeba blocks
Red Star take the ball to Leipzig and whip in a dangerous one from the right that Lukeba gets a good block to.
47'
vs
Xavi requires treatment
The creative talent has taken a blow to the face and has to get a cut patched up quickly on the sidelines. He'll be back on in a tick.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
47'
vs
Back in action
Red Star kick off the second half, having made one substitution in attack.
vs
Half-time: RB Leipzig 1-0 Red Star Belgrade
A fascinating Champions League night so far. Leipzig sprinted out of the blocks and got a well-deserved early lead from the brilliant David Raum. They went on to have further chances, but the visitors have given their all and the hosts are not home and dry by any means.
45' +4
vs
Leipzig free-kick just outside the box
Raum curls it in dangerously towards the far post and Glazer does well to tip it behind the target.
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +1
vs
Three minutes of stoppage time indicated
Leipzig have deserved their lead but might be happy for the chance to regroup and go again in a couple of minutes. Goalscorer David Raum does superbly again to whip a brilliant cross in that goes a little too deep for Poulsen to meet it.
43'
vs
Kampl fires wide
Leipzig are starting to probe again just before the break, but that was well off target.
39'
vs
Another Red Star penalty appeal
Ndiaye takes the ball forward well and goes to ground in the box while Lukeba was contesting him for possession - but nothing is given as it was a clear slip.
37'
vs
Leipzig back in control
After that strong spell for Red Star, Leipzig play the ball around comfortably for a few minutes. Then the visitors pose a threat on a quick break. There's everything still to play for in this intriguing encounter.
33'
vs
Simakan down
The defender goes to ground under a physical challenge from a Red Star attacker - but he can continue. The visitors are showing a bit of grit as they try to come back into this despite being outplayed.
30'
vs
Benjamin Henrichs
28'
vs
VAR scrubs Red Star penalty
A bit of a fright after such a strong start! Lukeba slides into a challenge in the box and a Red Star attacker goes down - but replays show the Leipzig defender clearly won the ball.
28'
vs
Forsberg smashes free kick-in
Leipzig have a set piece just outside the area. Forsberg steps up to smash it on goal but it's blocked by a defender.
25'
vs
Raum whips ball across goalmouth
Leipzig are still finding the space easy to come by and the goalscorer David Raum gets it in a threatening position on the right, but drills it across the goalmouth and out.
23'
vs
Blaswich clears the danger
Red Star threaten all of a sudden. Ivanic sneaks behind the defence but the Leipzig keeper cuts the angle down well to stop him getting a shot away.
21'
vs
All Leipzig so far
It has been an impressive display of dominance by the hosts. Red Star are struggling to cope with their quick combination play.
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It has been an impressive display of dominance by the hosts. Red Star are struggling to cope with their quick combination play.
17'
vs
Poulsen aims for bottom corner
One-way traffic right now! The latest chance for Leipzig falls to the Danish veteran, who scoops a good drive around a defender and sends Grazer scrambling across to save - he then makes another good save moments later to stop a Simakan header.
15'
vs
Henrichs troubles Red Star goalkeeper
That is what you have to term a shot-cum-cross, but we don't need to ask later if Henrichs meant that as Glazer gets in position and grabs it before it can cross the line. Leipzig are looking for a second!
12'
vs
Leipzig take an early lead
The men in white get the lead that their blistering start has deserved. A swift attack sees Forsberg cut the ball back to Xavi, who lays it off for Raum on the left - who strikes well past Glazer!