Highlights
B. Brand
Full-time
90'
Added time
Three more minutes to be played at the Red Bull Arena.
87'
Substitution
86'
Five minutes to go
Both sides are still looking to get forward. Will we see a late winner?
72'
Substitution
72'
Substitution
72'
Cologne level again!
Third time's the charm as a Kainz delivery from the left finally tells for the Billy Goats. This one's a corner, which is flicked on at the front post by Simakan and only onto the thigh of Gvardiol trying to cover at the back. He can do nothing as it bounces off him and in.
70'
Maina over
Another Kainz delivery into the box, this time spotting the run of Mainz. His first touch to take it down is good, but he's falling as he goes for the shot and is lucky to win a corner as it deflects off Gvardiol and over.
69'
Dietz on target
Kainz has time to pick out a cross from the left. It's to the far post, where Dietz rises highest, but he can only head into Gulacsi's hands.
69'
Cologne have had the better of the chances
xGoals
2
0.78
1.06
1
Goals
68'
Werner heads off
A goal in the bag, Werner's second Leipzig debut is over as he makes way for Andre Silva.
67'
Substitution
63'
Fresh legs
Hour gone and Baumgart opts for three sets of fresh legs as Cologne seek a second equaliser.
62'
Substitution
62'
Substitution
62'
Substitution
60'
Busy strikers
Shots
3
3
Christopher Nkunku Florian Dietz
56'
The 10 men strike!
Olmo with a perfect defence-splitting diagonal pass from right to left, into the path of Nkunku. He lets it roll across him and he lifts it past Schwäbe with the angle narrowing. Lovely finish from last year's Player of the Season.
50'
Will possession swing back against 10 men?
Possession (%)
6238
46'
Double change
Likely a reaction to the red card and what he saw throughout the first half, Tedesco has made a double switch at the break.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 3
Substitution
45'
+ 3
Substitution
0:31
Watch: Werner's goal on his Leipzig return
45'
+ 3
Half-time!
The action-packed half we thought we'd see between these sides. We've had disallowed goals, a Werner comeback strike, Cologne's immediate equaliser and now a red card. Still all to play for in the second half!
Half-time
45'
+ 2
Leipzig down to 10!
Szoboszlai throws an arm into the face of Kainz and is shown a straight red by referee Brand.
45'
A Timo rarity
Just seven of Werner's 92 Bundesliga goals have come from outside the box.
Dietz levels!
© IMAGO/Gabor Krieg/IMAGO/Picture Point LE
40'
Nkunku!
The game has opened up even more and Nkunku is picked out in space in the box. Schwäbe makes amends this time with a brave block charging out.
37'
He's back!
It was a speculative effort but Timo Werner is back in the Bundesliga and marks his return with a goal. A show with the inside of his right boot from over 20 yards, left of centre. It should be a simple stop for Schwäbe but he simply fails to catch it diving forward to his left and the ball goes straight through as Werner re-opens his Leipzig account.
👍
© Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
29'
Henrichs cool on the ball
Pass Efficiency
26'
Lively Thielmann
He's causing real issues down the Leipzig left. In fact, Cologne look dangerous every time they come forward. No end product as yet, though.
23'
Ljubicic!
Almost a brilliant Cologne goal as Thielmann plays one in low from the right. It's into the path of Skhiri coming from deep, who first-times it to Ljubicic to the right of goal, but he fires over.
22'
Speculative
Ehizibue has a go from a good 35 yards but it just trickles through for Gulacsi to pick up.
20'
Leipzig have twice had the ball in the net
xGoals
0
0.03
0.2
0
Goals
18'
Raum down
He's caught on the boot by Thielmann, who sees yellow. The Germany international needs a few moments to get back to his feet, though.
17'
Dietz!
Cologne pile forward and the ball is cut back towards the penalty spot. It's behind Dietz but the youngster manages to adjust and wrap his foot around the ball, but it's deflected off target.
15'
Offside
Nkunku rounds Schwäbe after a through ball but the flag was always going up there. He was a good few yards offside.
11'
Leipzig think they lead...
It's a lovely finish from Dani Olmo, bending on into the far corner from left of centre, but referee Brand is summoned to the monitor to review a possible handball by Raum. And replays show the Leipzig man definitely handled as the ball bounced up before cutting back for Olmo and the goal is chalked off.
9'
SituationGoal
ReviewPrevious handball?
DecisionNo goal
9'
Szoboszlai!
Leipzig take a quick throw and the ball is hooked into the box. It's not cleared and only falls to Szoboszlai, who forces a good stop out of Schwäbe.
7'
Early Leipzig possession
Possession (%)
6238
3'
Almost for Thielmann
Kainz cuts inside Simakan on the left and tries to flash one across the face of goal. Thielmann runs across it but just misses the bounce as it fizzes to Gulacsi.
1'
Away we go!
Strap yourselves in for what's bound to be a breathless 90 minutes!
Kick-off!
© Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Dangerous duo
Christopher Nkunku – one of the 30 nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or – had six efforts on goal and another six passes to a shot last matchday – no Bundesliga player had more. Teammate Dani Olmo also fired off six shots and had ‘just’ five passes to a shot – the latter placing him second in the division standings. But someone like Ljubicic also had five efforts on goal last week, so expect plenty of attacking intent on display today.
Never change
Cologne boss Baumgart is known for sticking to his attacking principle. It worked so well last year, so why change now? They attack down the wings and put plenty of high balls into the box. Their 28 crosses from open play and six headers on goal weren’t just division bests on the opening matchday but also produced the goods, with Kainz’s goal coming from a cross and Ljubicic’s a header. It’s still working even without Modeste. Florian Dietz was given his debut for the club in his place last week and had four efforts on goal.
Modeste who?
It could’ve been an even bigger win for Cologne on the opening day, even without last season’s top scorer Modeste. Their 30 efforts on goal was the most of all teams on Matchday 1 and the most by the Billy Goats in a Bundesliga game since November 2003. Their xG against Schalke was up at 4.6.
Lucky 777?
It's exactly 777 days since Werner last featured in a Leipzig shirt. That was on 27 June 2020 against Augsburg, when he bagged a brace.
0:06
Watch: Inside the Cologne dressing room
A repeat start for the Billy Goats
Cologne kicked off this season with a 3-1 win at home to Schalke, which was the same result they had to start the last campaign, which they ultimately finished in seventh to qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League. Most Effzeh fans would take a repeat of that again this year. The last time Cologne made Europe in two consecutive seasons was in 1989 and 1990.
Leipzig often quick starters
Leipzig have never lost their first home game of a Bundesliga season, winning five and drawing once. Last season it was a comprehensive 4-0 win over Stuttgart, which followed a shock 1-0 loss at Mainz. Stuttgart were their opponents on Matchday 1 this year, where they were held to a 1-1 draw. RB have always managed a win in the first two games except in 2018/19 when they took three matches to get going under Ralf Rangnick.
Return of Timo
Cologne team news
Steffen Baumgart also makes three changes to the side that beat Schalke last weekend. Kingsley Ehizibue, Eric Martel (for his Bundesliga debut against the club he left this summer) and Timo Hübers come in. Benno Schmitz, Jeff Chabot and Kingsley Schindler drop to the bench.
Leipzig team news
It's three changes for Leipzig compared to the opening weekend. The returning Timo Werner is thrown straight in for a start alongside Christopher Nkunku in an attacking line-up that also features Dani Olmo and Dominik Szoboszlai. Mohamed Simakan comes in for the injured Lukas Klostermann, while Kevin Kampl drops to the bench.
0:28
Watch: Werner is back!
Cologne subs
Horn, Schmitz, Pedersen, Duda, Adamyan, Chabot, Lemperle, Maina, Olesen
Cologne XI
Schwäbe - Ehizibue, Kilian, Hübers, Hector (c) – Martel, Skhiri - Thielmann, Ljubicic, Kainz - Dietz
Leipzig subs
Blaswich, Haidara, Forsberg, Silva, Schlager, Ba, Gvardiol, Sorloth, Kampl
Leipzig XI
Gulacsi (c) - Simakan, Orban, Halstenberg – Novoa, Henrichs, Olmo, Raum – Szoboszlai - Nkunku, Werner
2:03
Watch last time out: Cologne 3-1 Schalke
2:03
Watch last time out: Stuttgart 1-1 Leipzig
Welcome!
Welcome along to coverage of today's tantalising Bundesliga clash between RB Leipzig and Cologne at the Red Bull Arena.