M. Schmidt
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90'
+ 1
AN EMPHATIC RESULT
The Julian Nagelsmann era at Leipzig has begun with a bang courtesy of a 4-0 win over Bundesliga debutants Union Berlin, who made a few too many mistakes at the back. The visitors proved ruthlessly efficient in front of goal and could, and should, have won by more en route to their first-ever MAtchday 1 win. They miss out on going top of the table by a single goal, but their first game under Nagelsmann couldn't have gone much better as they maintain their unbeaten record against newly-promoted sides in the Bundesliga.
Full-time
88'
A DISTANT MEMORY
The last time Union conceded four goals at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei was back in November 2014 when 1860 Munich picked up a 4-1 win.
87'
ANOTHER CHANCE...
...goes begging as Halstenberg slices wide on the volley from inside the Union box.
87'
NOT QUITE FIVE-STAR
Nkunku is played through on goal again. This time he tries to clip the ball over the onrushing Gikiwiecz, but doesn't get enough height on the chip. He's making a superb first impression off the bench though.
83'
JUST ONE MORE GOAL
Julian Nagelsmann has never been in charge of a side sat at the top of the Bundesliga standings. If Leipzig score one more time, that will change tonight. Right now Dortmund lead courtesy of scoring once more in their 5-1 win over Augsburg.
81'
NKUNKU HITS THE POST
Leipzig go close to a fifth as Nkunku latches onto a through ball before rounding Gikiwiecz, but can't turn the ball into an empty net from a tight angle as his effort goes behind off the post.
80'
TIME RUNNING OUT
Union Berlin have 10 minutes to grab a consolation effort and their first Bundesliga goal in the club's history. Tonight has proven to be a steep learning curve for the capital city newcomers.
80'
THE QUARTERBACK IS ON
Forsberg comes on for the closing stages. Before Sabitzer tonight, the Swede was the last player to register three assists in a single game for Leipzig back in May of 2017
73'
Substitution
73'
SENSATIONAL SABITZER
We've waxed lyrical about him all afternoon, but Sabitzer really has been exemplary. At times it's felt like he's had the freedom of the Stadion an der Alten Försterei at his mercy as he's had a hand in all four of Leipzig's goals this evening. Man of the Match by a comfortable margin.
73'
LETHAL FROM NKUNKU
The youngster signed from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer scored levelled the scores with his very first touch of a Bundesliga ball, just three minutes into his debut.
69'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionGoal
69'
Substitution
68'
FOURS AT THE DOOR
It was all a little too easy, almost like a goal that would be conceded at the end of a 94th-minute counter attack. Leipzig have numbers on their side as Halstenberg picks out Sabitzer. The Austrian heads back across goal and, though Poulsen fails to get a touch, Nkunku was in the right place at the right time to grab a goal on his debut.
66'
WERNER OFF
Werner looks a little puzzled by the decision to bring him off for Nkunku making his debut, but his account has been opened in the 2019/20 campaign.
65'
Substitution
64'
TOUGH AGAINST THE LEAGUE'S BEST BACKLINE
Free-kick for the hosts. Andrich has a crack from 30 yards out, but the shot didn't have enough pace of precision to pose Gulasci any real problems. Union have had 11 shots, three on target - none have really tested Leipzig's No1.
63'
A STEP BACK?
A like-for-like change for Leipzig in central midfield. The visitors are being pinned inside their own half by Union at present.
62'
Substitution
58'
NO IMPACT
Like Gentner before him, Abdullahi only had 20 touches before being brought off.
58'
Substitution
52'
NOT THE FIRST
Union are the third newly-promoted side in Bundesliga history to concede three goals in the first half of their first game. The others were TeBe Berlin 1974/75 (3-0 at half-time in Braunschweig) and SC Freiburg 1993/94 (3-1 at half-time in Munich).
50'
HUGE DOUBLE SAVE
Gikiwiecz conceded every time Leipzig hit the target in the first half, but has now made three saves in the second. The latest being a quickfire double to deny both Sabitzer and Poulsen clear-cut opportunities.
50'
WERNEEEERRRRR!
Lovely build-up play from Leipzig who slive through Union backline to play in Werner, but the Germany international fails to beat the onrushing Gikiwiecz from a tight angle.
49'
A FIRST?
Union will be able to offset some of the doom and gloom of their current predicament if they can grab their first Bundesliga goal in the club's history.
48'
ONE VETERAN FOR ANOTHER
Anthony Ujah with 109 appearances to his name in Germany's top flight, replaces 377-time Bundesliga veteran Christian Gentner
46'
Substitution
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
ITS RAINING, IT'S POURING, LEIPZIG ARE SCORING
The weather matches the mood in Berlin with Union enduring a miserable introduction to life in the Bundesliga. The debutants have had promising spells of play, but have come up against a Leipzig side in an unforgiving mood and needing two more goals to end the weekend in top spot in the Bundesliga.
Half-time
45'
+ 1
A 1ST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Fun fact: Timo Werner's goal is his first on Matchday 1 of a Bundesliga season.
45'
+ 1
MARVELLOUS MARCEL
That's one goal and two assists for Sabitzer this evening with Leipzig scoring with every shot on target so far.
42'
WERNER ADDS A THIRD
Leipzig are picking Union apart now and it's threatening to get ugly courtesy of their ruthless efficiency in the final third. Sabitzer plays a cheeky one two with Werner who unleashes an absolute thunderbolt into the top corner. There was no stopping that!
41'
SABITZER'S SPECIALTY
Seven of Sabitzer's 16 Bundesliga goals have come from outside the area and he seems to be relishing his new role under Julian Nagelsmann.
39'
TO ME, TO YOU
After Sabitzer set-up Halstenberg for Leipzig's first, the left-back returned the favour for the Austrian to double Leipzig's advantage. Sabitzer has now scored three times in two competitive fixtures this season including his brace in the DFB Pokal 1st round win over Osnabrück.
34'
OFF THE BAR!
Union are making too many mistakes at the back and almost fall further behind after sloppily conceding possession. Leipzig work the ball to Poulsen, who had time and space at his mercy only to see his deft chip hit the bar with Gikiwiecz beaten.
32'
LEIPZIG DOUBLE THEIR ADVANTAGE
Union are the makers of their own downfall as Trimmel gives the ball away inside his own half to Halstenberg who surges forward before picking out Sabitzer. The Austrian's powerful first time effort left Gikiwiecz with little chance.
30'
DANGEROUS DEAD BALLS
Two corners in quick succession for Union. The first isn't cleared as Prömel's first time snap shot is tipped behind by Gulasci. The second corner comes to nothing, but Berlin are winning their battles from set-pieces up front.
28'
BATTLING BACK
The rain is really coming down in the capital now. Union haven't shied away from the task at hand despite falling behind and are doing well to make life even more difficult for Leipzig in already difficult conditions.
23'
SituationGoal
ReviewPrevious handball?
DecisionNo goal
23'
LEIPZIG HAVE A SECOND...OR DO THEY?
Leipzig have the ball in the back of the net with Klostermann sweeping home from close range after the ball ping-ponged around the Union penalty area. However, replays show the ball touched the arm of Poulsen in the mix so the goal doesn't count as per the new rules.
19'
RUTHLESS FROM LEIPZIG
Halstenberg's effort was Leipzig's first shot of the game. Five of the the 27-year-old's six Bundesliga goals have come away from home.
19'
HALSTENBERG STRIKES
Commentators curse? A lovely finish from Halstenberg as he cuts in on his weaker right foot before curling an effort into the far corner. But where was the defending from Union despite Abdullahi tracking back, Leipzig's left-back had so much time and space to decide what to do.
15'
SOLID START
The first 15 minutes of Union's debut Bundesliga season have been very promising. The fact that Sabitzer, Werner and Poulsen have only had a combined 15 touches between them so far speaks volumes.
13'
POSSESSION WITHOUT PURPOSE
Leipzig are having a lot o the ball - 61.7 per cent to be exact - but they're not doing much with it and keep running out of steam against a deep-lying and disciplined Union side.
10'
INCHES AWAY
Andersson arrives just a second late in trying to meet a cross from the right following an Union corner. It just needed a touch with Gulasci off his line.
7'
LIKE A BABY'S FIRST STEPS
A first sight of Union in transition. Andersson held onto the ball too long, but when it's worked back to him from the byline his scuffed shot is blocked before the chance fizzles out.
4'
NO RISKS BEING TAKEN
Both sides are going through a feeling-out process in the opening exchanges. Leipzig's switch to a three-man backline under Nagelsmann is giving Klostermann and Halstenberg much more license to roam on either flank. No chances to speak of so far.
Kick-off!
FAMILIARITY
Experience is not lacking in the Leipzig starting XI, on the other hand. In fact, every single one of their players has already appeared in Germany's top flight, and in a Leipzig shirt. That's right – Julian Nagelsmann has not named a single new signing in his team. He is the only coach to have done that on this opening weekend.
EXPERIENCE LACKING
Going back to that Union starting XI, only Christian Gentner has any Bundesliga experience to talk about. In fact, he makes up 377 out of a total of 395 Bundesliga appearances for the entire Union team.
NEW FACES
A few new faces on the Leipzig bench, with Nkunku and Ampadu hoping to make Bundesliga debuts today. Here's who they will initially be sat with…: Mvogo, Laimer, Saracchi, Forsberg, Haidara, Ilsanker, Matheus Cunha
LEIPZIG ELEVEN
Here is Julian Nagelsmann's first ever Bundesliga starting XI... for Leipzig:
Gulacsi - Mukiele, Konate, Orban - Klostermann, Demme, Halstenberg, Sabitzer, Kampl - Poulsen, Werner
UNION SUBS
Just to complete the picture, here are Union's subs, including several players with a wealth of Bundesliga experience, such as Subotic, Schmiedebach and Ujah.
Substitutes: Nicolas, Reichel, Subotic, Mees, Schmiedebach, Becker, Ingvartsen, Polter, Ujah
UNIONS STARTING XI
Gikiewicz - Trimmel, Friedrich, Schlotterbeck, Lenz - Prömel, Gentner, Andrich, Bülter - Abdullahi, Andersson
LINE-UPS
This is an historic day, and another historic moment is approaching - Union have just announced their first ever Bundesliga Starting XI... here it comes...
GREEN FISCHER
Speaking of firsts, this is also a Bundesliga debut for Urs Fischer, Union's coach. While he may be green, he says he's ready. "In the first game there's always difficulties. There's little video material available, but there are pre-season matches, which you can scout. You can see patterns and principles in them. We also know Nagelsmann from before in Hoffenheim. Sure, after five or six games, you start to know the opponents better," he said.
UNBEATEN BERLIN
This may be the first time these two teams meet in the Bundesliga – and that will, for obvious reasons, apply to all of Union's first 17 games of the season – they did meet in Bundesliga 2 and Union were unbeaten on home soil, winning 2-1 in 2014 and drawing 1-1 in 2015. Will Urs Fischer's men be able to continue that record today?
WINNING START?
Nagelsmann made a winning start to life as Leipzig coach in the DFB Cup last weekend, but can he carry that forward into the Bundesliga? "I'm totally excited that the start of the Bundesliga season is here at last and I can't wait to measure up to other teams," Nagelsmann said.
NEW TERRITORY
They may be new to the Bundesliga, but RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann – entering into new territory himself, having joined from Hoffenheim this summer – knows plenty about his side's opponents today. "We're going to be up against a tough-tackling team who have a lot of big, robust players in their squad," he said. "They can either defend in a block or attack you out of a compact midfield press."
UNION BECOME NUMBER 56
Welcome not only to the final game of Matchday 1, but a big, warm welcome to the Bundesliga to Union Berlin, who become the 56th club to play in Germany's top flight today!
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Union Berlin vs. Leipzig from matchday 1 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the An der Alten Försterei. Check back here for full information on the match.