Timo Werner's 25th Bundesliga goal of the season sends RB Leipzig third in Cologne thriller
Timo Werner scored his 25th Bundesliga goal of the season as RB Leipzig reclaimed third place with a come-from-behind win in Cologne.
Cologne 2-4 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Cordoba (7'), 1-1 Schick (20'), 1-2 Nkunku (38'), 1-3 Werner (50'), 2-3 Modeste (55'), 2-4 Olmo (57')
Timo Horn denied Werner at close quarters early on, but the opening goal fell the way of Cologne. The Leipzig defence was slow to react as Elvis Rexhbecaj's low strike came back off the far post via Peter Gulacsi's outstretched leg, and Jhon Cordoba took full advantage with a full-blooded follow-up effort into the top corner. The Colombian headed straight at Horn soon after, before picking up a knee injury following a collision with Dayot Upamecano. That swung the game in Leipzig's favour, with AS Roma loanee Patrik Schick sending a fine header from Manchester City-owned Angelino's pin-point cross into the net for 1-1. The visitors doubled their advantage when Christopher Nkunku raced onto Konrad Laimer's superb through-ball and clipped over Horn.
Leipzig stretched their lead early in the second half with a textbook route one goal. Gulacsi claimed a Florian Kainz cross and proceeded to hoof the ball upfield for Werner. He raced clear, before slotting calmly beyond Horn. Anthony Modeste reduced the arrears with a quite brilliant long-range effort from nothing, only for Dani Olmo to return fire with his maiden Bundesliga goal after Cologne could only half clear a corner. Horn denied Werner his second of the contest, with Schick sending the follow-up wide, before a decision to award a penalty against Lukas Klostermann for a foul on Modeste was overruled following a VAR review. Olmo and Werner spurned chances to add gloss to the scoreline, with Modeste following suit when one-on-one with Gulacsi, the Frenchman passing up a golden opportunity to set up a grandstand finish.
Match stats
- Werner has scored 15 of his 25 Bundesliga goals this season away from home.
- Schick is averaging a goal every two games (nine in 18 Bundesliga appearances).
- Nkunku put away his fifth Bundesliga goal.
- Angelino registered his first Bundesliga assist.
- Ten of Cordoba’s 12 Bundesliga goals this season have come at home.
- Julian Nagelsmann is now unbeaten in seven meetings with Cologne (W5, D2) as a coach.
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Line-ups
Cologne: Horn - Schmitz (Mere 75'), Leistner, Czichos, Katterbach - Skhiri, Hector (c) - Kainz (Drexler 59'), Rexhbecaj (Thielmann 59'), Jakobs (Terodde 75') - Cordoba (Modeste 24')
Unused subs: Kessler, Ehizibue, Höger, Schindler
Out: Bornauw (suspended), Hauptmann (groin), Risse (knee), Uth (muscular)
Coach: Markus Gisdol
Leipzig: Gulacsi - Mukiele, Klostermann, Upamecano, Angelino - Sabitzer (c), Laimer (Adams 59') - Nkunku, Olmo (Forsberg 85'), Werner - Schick (Haidara 68')
Unused subs: Mvogo, Orban, Lookman, Wolf, Krauss
Out: Ampadu (back), Halstenberg (suspended), Kampl (groin), Konate (hamstring), Poulsen (ankle)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
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