Advertisement
Full-time
89'
ANOTHER DOMINANT LEIPZIG DISPLAY
The away side have produced 21 attempts on the Fortuna goal, with just four coming towards Gulacsi's net at the other end. With another three goals scored Leipzig are now the league's outright top scorers again, sitting top of the table overnight and with a fourth clean sheet of the season on the way.
81'
Substitution
81'
HANNES WOLF ON AGAIN
The former Salzburg winger comes on from the bench for the second game in a row here. He suffered a nasty knee injury in the summer having signed for Leipzig and was ruled out until just a few weeks ago. Great to see him on the Bundesliga pitch!
81'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
75'
MUKIELE NODS IN A THIRD
Leipzig work the ball well across the Fortuna box and it ends up with Sabitzer on the right flank, powering his way to the byline. He dinks the ball back into the area in the air and Mukiele is at the near post to meet it, sending a powerful header beyond the reach of Steffen.
74'
CUNHA FORCES A SAVE
A long ball is controlled by Werner and played to Cunha who goes on a nice run into the Fortuna box. He shoots at goal on his left but Steffen is equal to it with a strong right hand.
71'
LEIPZIG LOOKING TO KEEP CONTROL
It may be 2-0 and looking comfortable, but Leipzig know they need to play until the end. They conceded twice having been 3-0 up at Paderborn a couple of weeks ago and conceded once to Hoffenheim last week in the final 10 minutes. They won't want the same to happen again.
71'
Substitution
70'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
58'
16 FOR WERNER!
The No.11 smashes the ball into the bottom corner past Steffen and is off to celebrate for the 16th time this season. An incredible first half of the season for the German striker who does the business from the penalty spot here.
57'
LEIPZIG PENALTY!
Ilsanker's shot is blocked by Ayhan and VAR judges it to have been from the defender's hand.
55'
SituationNo penalty
ReviewHandball?
DecisionPenalty
54'
ILSANKER HEADS WIDE
The centre-back is up for a set-piece and is found by Nkunku's free-kick from just outside the box on the left wing. His glancing effort bounces just wide of Steffen's goal, though.
49'
ALMOST PERFECT FROM WERNER
The German striker is found with a perfect long ball and he spots Steffen off his line as the ball makes its way to him. He then adjusts his header and attempts to loop it over the Fortuna shot-stopper, but the USMNT No.1 is able to swat it away with his fingertips.
46'
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
We're back underway for the second half without a change to either side at the break. RB Leipzig are top as things stand, but will they still be there come full-time?
Kick-off!
45'
+ 1
HOPE FOR FORTUNA
After Leipzig's perfect start through Schick and largely dominant display during the first half, the home side will be looking to take inspiration from Thommy and Kownacki who combined to hit the Leipzig post just before the break. With Leipzig unable to kill the game off so far, it's very much there for the taking for Fortuna if they can grab a goal.
Half-time
44'
KOWNACKI HITS THE POST!
Out of nowhere, the home side come within inches of an equaliser. A lovely run from Thommy as he cuts inside from the right wing before finding Kownacki on the edge of the Leipzig box. He has Ilsanker in front of him but curls a shot past him and Gulacsi, only to see it cannon back out off the far post.
41'
FREE-KICK DEFLECTED...
Halstenberg continues on the set-pieces for Leipzig and hits a free-kick powerfully at goal. It deflects off the Fortuna wall and drifts towards goal with Steffen stranded at the other side, but luckily for him it goes the other side of his right post.
36'
LEIPZIG IN CONTROL
The away side have had 67 per cent of the ball so far in this game as well as eight attempts on goal to the two of Fortuna. The Düsseldorf defence has been able to calm the threat of Werner and Co. in recent minutes, but the pressure is continuously building.
27'
UPAMECANO SAVED BY THE FLAG
The French defender is on the end of a Halstenberg set-piece and volleys his first effort at goal, finding Steffen. The ball rebounds to him but he can only send it over the crossbar with his acrobatic effort. Leipzig could be made to pay if they don't take one of these chances soon...
26'
FORTUNA TRYING TO FIGHT THE LEIPZIG PRESS
It's proving so difficult for the home side to do anything with the ball once they have won it from Leipzig. The away side's counter-pressing is persistent and breathless and it's proving impossible for them to break through so far.
21'
ILSANKER FIRES OVER!
Huge chance for the second goal after Halstenberg's set-piece is not dealt with by the Fortuna defence and the ball eventually drops at the back post to Ilsanker, who turns and shoots on his left. But he can only fire it high over the Fortuna crossbar.
14'
NEW CLUB RECORD
RB Leipzig have now scored in each of their last 16 Bundesliga games including, of course, all 15 games of this current season so far. It's a new club record.
11'
FIRST MOVE FORWARD
Ampomah works some magic around the left side of the Leipzig box and sends a low cross into the box with Kownacki in the middle. The Polish forward can't control the ball while under a challenge from Upamecano and in the air the ball dribbles the way of Gulacsi.
7'
SCHICK AND HIS LOVE FOR AN EARLY STRIKE
Both of the Roma loanee's goals so far in the Bundesliga have come away from home, have been the opening goal of the game, and have come inside the opening three minutes. He's starting to love life with Leipzig.
4'
SABITZER SHOULD DOUBLE THE LEAD
This time Schick turns provider from the left and his pin-point cross is perfectly placed to meet Sabitzer's run to the back post. But the Austrian can't angle his header on target and sends his effort wide of the mark.
2'
A SCHICK START FOR LEIPZIG
The ball goes from Gulacsi in his own box and is played through the Leipzig team up to Laimer, who knocks the ball through the Fortuna defence and is able to reach it again himself on the right flank. He clips a cross into the box and Schick meets it on the volley to smash Leipzig into an early lead.
1'
UNDERWAY IN DÜSSELDORF
We're underway here in Düsseldorf for the late game this evening.
Kick-off!
HENNINGS TAKEN ILL
The surprise omission of Rouwen Hennings - Fortuna Düsseldorf's top scorer this season with 10 goals - was also a surprise for coach Friedhelm Funkel this morning. The Fortuna head coach has confirmed that Hennings was taken ill this morning in the team hotel and has returned home to recover.
LARGELY UNCHANGED FROM NAGELSMANN
The Leipzig boss has made only one change from the side that beat Hoffenheim 3-1 last week, with Christoper Nkunku coming into attacking midfield for Emil Forsberg, who's on the bench.
DÜSSELDORF STARTING LINE-UP:
Steffen – Ayhan, Bormuth, Hoffmann – Zimmermann, Sobottka, Bodzek (c), Gießelmann – Thommy – Ampomah, Kownacki
DÜSSELDORF SUBS:
Kastenmeier, Adams, Fink, Barkok, Pledl, Contento, Baker, Tekpetey
LEIPZIG STARTING LINE-UP:
Gulacsi – Klostermann, Ilsanker, Upamecano, Halstenberg – Laimer, Demme (c) – Sabitzer, Schick, Nkunku – Werner
LEIPZIG SUBS:
Mvogo, Haidara, Poulsen, Forsberg, Lookman, Wolf, Cunha, Mukiele, Ampadu
OLDEST VS. YOUNGEST COACH
This game pits the oldest and youngest current Bundesliga coaches against each other. Fortuna's Friedhelm Funkel turned 66 on Tuesday, while Leipzig's Nagelsmann is only 32. Düsseldorf are also the third-oldest club in the Bundesliga, Leipzig are the youngest.
POULSEN LOVES DÜSSELDORF
Leipzig forward Yussuf Poulsen will be licking his lips in anticipation of this game, as he has an impressive record against them: 5 matches, 5 goals, including two in last season’s 4-0 away win.
NAGELSMANN EXPECTING A BATTLE
Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig side may have won their last five Bundesliga games, but they are taking nothing for granted against Düsseldorf today: “We need to expect it to be a hard-fought game – that’s what Friedhelm Funkel and his players have said it’ll be. It’ll be important to have the right emotional level and we need to be up for the fight. We’ve been warned.”
FUNKEL: “LEIPZIG ARE TITLE CANDIDATES”
Düsseldorf boss Friedhelm Funkel was full of praise for Leipzig during his pre-match press conference this week, while also reminding his charges to get back to basics as they look for a first win since Matchday 10: “We need to take more responsibility out on the pitch again. We need to be more alert and to try to prevent certain things happening early on. Leipzig have got absolutely top-class attackers. Timo Werner’s in unbelievable form, Yussuf Poulsen and Emil Forsberg too. For me, Leipzig are title candidates.”
WERNER TO CONTINUE RUN?
The Leipzig forward is in astonishing form at present and his hit nine Bundesliga goals in his last five outings to take his tally to 15 for the season. He doesn't seem to discriminate between playing home and away, having struck seven times on the road so far this term.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be just the third Bundesliga meeting between these sides. Last season they drew 1-1 in Leipzig, before Die Roten Bullen won 4-0 away. Düsseldorf failed to beat Leipzig in four previous encounters in Bundesliga 2, too, losing three and drawing one between 2014 and 2016.
BIG POINTS ON THE LINE
Both teams will be desperate for victory today, albeit for different reasons. Fortuna's recent form slump - just two points earned from the last 12 available - has left them inside the bottom three, so a win here would do wonders for their confidence in a week with two more games coming thick and fast. Leipzig, meanwhile, could go top for 24 hours at least, if they take the points.
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Düsseldorf vs. Leipzig from matchday 15 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the Merkur Spielarena. Check back here for full information on the match.