Konrad Laimer, Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo on target as clinical Leipzig bewilder Borussia Dortmund
Konrad Laimer scored a brace while Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo also netted as RB Leipzig continued their sublime form in 2022 with a comprehensive victory at the home of Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund 1-4 Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Laimer 21' (assist: Nkunku), 0-2 Laimer 30', 0-3 Nkunku 58' (assist: Laimer), 1-3 Malen 84' (assist: Can), 1-4 Olmo 86' (assist: Nkunku)
With the Signal Iduna Park full to capacity for the first time in more than two years, over 80,000 fans packed into this iconic ground expecting goals from a game that had produced 22 of them here in five previous meetings between these teams. It soon appeared as if the hosts would bag the first of them when Mats Hummels scooped a delicious outside-of-the-boot assist in for the returning Marco Reus. Stuck in two minds as to whether to shoot or lay off for teammate Erling Haaland, the Dortmund captain - making his 350th appearance in Black-and-Yellow - chose the latter option, with a stray pass the outcome. Their tails up having lost just once in all competitions this year, Leipzig's confidence was further bolstered by the fact that they had beaten BVB in the corresponding fixture this season. The Saxony-based side have restored their hunger under coach Domenico Tedesco and it was just such desire that saw Laimer rob Emre Can of possession in the build-up to the game's opener, the Austrian popping up later in the move to confidently lift Nkunku's super assist over the advancing Gregor Kobel. Just nine minutes later, Laimer was celebrating again after his shot took a deflection off the despondent Can and bounced in.
Knowing Leipzig had never previously let a two-goal lead slip in their Bundesliga history, the hosts realised they had their work cut out trying to reel in their high-flying visitors. The task would become a monumental one when Nkunku finished off a breakaway attack by slamming home Laimer's back-heeled pass for a 3-0 Leipzig lead. Desperate to give the majority inside the stadium something to cheer, Donyell Malen delivered a late consolation but it was the visitors who would still have the last word, and they would do so in some style. Capping off one more fantastic performance in a Leipzig shirt, Nkunku fed Olmo, who took his time before arcing a picturesque finish into the top corner. The result leaves Dortmund nine points behind leaders Bayern, while Leipzig are in fourth, and dreaming of even better with just six games to go.
Match stats
- This was Leipzig's fourth away win in a row. They have now done the double over Dortmund this season.
- Nkunku is the only player this season to boast double digits in terms of goals scored (16) and assists (11).
- Laimer scored his first brace in what was his 103rd Bundesliga game. He has already scored more goals this season (4) than in his first four Bundesliga seasons combined (3).
- Nkunku is Leipzig's top scorer and top assist provider. The France international has laid on 11 goals and trails only Thomas Müller (16) in the assist standings.
- Leipzig have scored more long-range goals (10) this term than any other team.
- Since opening his account for the Bundesliga season on Matchday 6, Nkunku has only failed to score, assist or both - as he did in the reverse fixture - in seven of 23 games.
Watch: Kobel: "We need to improve"
Line-ups
Dortmund: Kobel - Can, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro - Hazard (Reyna 74'), Witsel (Dahoud 61'), Bellingham - Wolf (Malen 61'), Haaland, Reus (c) (Brandt 74')
Unused subs: Hitz, Zagadou, Moukoko, Pongracic
Out: Meunier (muscular), Morey (knee), Passlack (muscular), Schmelzer (knee), Schulz (muscular), Tigges (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose
Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Simakan (Halstenberg 78'), Orban, Gvardiol - Mukiele (Klostermann 68'), Laimer, Kampl (Forsberg 68'), Angelino - Olmo (Novoa 89') - Silva (Szoboszlai 78'), Nkunku
Unused subs: Martinez, Tschauner, Raebiger
Out: Haidara (knee), Henrichs (stomach bug), Poulsen (groin)
Coach: Domenico Tedesco
Watch: Tedesco on the "amazing atmosphere" in Dortmund
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