Alexander Sorloth keeps RB Leipzig's hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League last 16 alive in Istanbul Basaksehir thriller
RB Leipzig are guaranteed UEFA Europa League football in the new year, but could yet qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds after substitute Alexander Sorloth scored an injury-time goal to seal a 4-3 win away to Istanbul Basaksehir.
Third in Group H at the start of play, 2019/20 semi-finalists Leipzig set their stall out to attack as Emil Forsberg shot wide from 15 yards and Nordi Mukiele forced a sharp save out of Mert Günok inside the opening five minutes. Günok thwarted Yussuf Poulsen and Forsberg threatened once more, before Leipzig got the goal their dominance so richly deserved when Marcel Sabitzer’s 20-yard effort deflected in off Poulsen. Mukiele combined with Forsberg to add a second, but not before Peter Gulacsi had kept out ex-Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba from close range.
Leipzig’s advantage was halved late in the first period when Irfan Kahveci scored his first of the contest. Edin Visca ballooned over and had an effort ruled out early in an entertaining second half, either side of promising openings for Angelino and Forsberg. Leipzig restored their two-goal lead through Dani Olmo, but Kahveci scored twice, completing his hat-trick six minutes after Poulsen had struck the woodwork from a tight angle. Sorloth had the final say, though, opening his Leipzig account two minutes into added time, with a goal that gives Die Roten Bullen every hope of reaching the last 16 going into their final group outing at home to Manchester United.
Match stats
Poulsen scored his first Champions League goal on his 17th appearance.
Mukiele also got his first goal in Europe.
Leipzig's 13 shots in the first half was the most they've ever had in a Champions League away game.
Sorloth scored his maiden goal for Leipzig. He got 33 in 49 appearances whilst on loan at Turkish club Trabzonspor last season, including one in injury time against Basaksehir.
This was Leipzig's first away win in the Champions League this season. They won three of their four away games in term, drawing the other.
Basaksehir have failed to win five of six meetings with Bundesliga clubs (D2, L3).
Champions League Matchday 5 Matchday 5 Fatih Terim Stadium
LEIPZIG HAVE DONE IT!
A massive, dramatic win for RB Leipzig away at Istanbul Basaksehir! They were by far the better side and thoroughly deserve the three points that move them above PSG before their game in Manchester shortly. It means their fate is in their own hands for Matchday 6, although they are at least guaranteed a place in the Europa League for the new year. But the Champions League last 16 is in sight.
Surely the winner for Leipzig! Ball up to the big striker, he takes a touch, gets it out of his feet and fires a left-footed effort past Günok for his first Leipzig goal. And what a big one it is!
Kahveci again brings Basaksehir back to within one goal, curling one into the far corner on his left foot. The Turkish side's fourth goal of the campaign from outside the box - they've only netted five in total.
He's been quiet so far but Dani Olmo has popped up at a crucial moment for Leipzig. He picks up Angelino's throw, cuts inside his man and drives his shot past Günok at his near post.
Basaksehir have the ball in the back of the net as Visca rounds Gulacsi, but he knew he was well offside.
61'
FORSBERG!
An even bigger chance for the Sweden international as he gets across the front post and onto Mukiele's low ball from the right, but somehow puts it wide!
60'
ANGELINO!
A low driven effort from Leipzig's top scorer and he forces a smart save out of Günok.
Basaksehir's best attack of the game as Chadli bends a low cross across the face of goal. The captain Visca is unmarked at the back but somehow puts his effort over.
53'
BLOW FOR LEIPZIG
Dayot Upamecano is shown yellow for a tackle on Gulbrandsen and will miss next Tuesday's final group game at home to Manchester United.
Substitute Epureanu is unmarked at a corner and gets his head to the cross, but puts it wide.
46'
HALF-TIME CHANGES
Tyler Adams replaces Kevin Kampl in the Leipzig midfield for the second half. It's two new faces for the hosts at the break with Mahmut Tekdemir and Alexandru Apureanu replacing Berkay Özcan and Martin Skrtel.
Leipzig's 13 attempts on goal so far is the most they've ever had in the first half of a Champions League away game.
COMMANDING
Julian Nagelsmann will be annoyed with that. His side have dominated Basaksehir over the first 45 minutes and were deservedly 2-0 up before that injury-time corner. You'd think the message will be for more of the same.
Half-time
45'
+ 3
ONE BACK
Well that came from nowhere. Basaksehir cut a corner back to Kahveci coming from deep and he fires it through the crowd of bodies and into the back of the net.
Forsberg and Mukiele combine once more, this time with an end product. The Swede is on the floor as he plays the ball across the penalty area with the full-back arriving and putting his effort back across goal with his left foot. He has a first European goal and Leipzig have a two-goal cushion in Istanbul.
He's been a spectator for all of this game but Peter Gulacsi has pulled out a great reaction save with his right hand to deny Demba Ba on the spin and keep Leipzig ahead.
Play has ground to a halt brief as Basaksehir's Boli Bolingoli goes down after being caught by his own man when blocking a shot. He's being helped off the pitch and the hosts are preparing a replacement.
26'
LEIPZIG LEAD!
A slice of fortune about the goal but Leipzig are deservedly ahead. Sabitzer drives forward from deep and has a crack from over 20 yards. The ball takes a deflection off Martin Skrtel before ultimately coming off Poulsen and past Günok. Not a first Champions League goal the Dane had imagined, but he's finally broken his duck in the competition at the 17th attempt and Leipzig lead.
An Angelino cross is deflected and loops towards the far post, where neither goalkeeper nor defender really deal with it and ultimately concede a corner.
22'
HAIDARA!
Another corner causes mayhem in the Basaksehir box. After a couple of bounces it falls to Haidara to hit, but it's blocked. Slight appeals for a hand, but a VAR check turns down the protests.
19'
FORSBERG IN BEHIND
Lively again from the Swede as he finds space in behind the left-back. There's no options for him in front of goal so he goes alone from a narrow angle and earns a corner as Bolingoli gets back to block.
First half chance for the hosts by Kahveci fires well over from the edge of the box.
12'
POULSEN!
Yet another chance for the Bundesliga side as Forsberg delivers a free-kick from the right. Poulsen is completely unmarked and flicks it towards goal, but Günok manages to react and get a hand to it.
8'
GETTING TO GRIPS
It's been four minutes since a Leipzig attack. Basaksehir are starting to settle into the game now.
4'
MUKIELE!
Roles reversed this time as Forsberg swings in a corner from the left and onto the head of Mukiele, who forces a sharp save out of Günok.
3'
FORSBERG AGAIN!
Another bursting run forward from Mukiele and again he picks out Forsberg, this time central and about 15 yards out, but he fires wide. Leipzig are pushing hard from the start.
1'
FORSBERG IN
Leipzig are immediately on the front foot as Mukiele gets in down the right and plays it forward to Forsberg, but the Swede runs out of space as Ponck comes across and probably should've had a corner.
Kick-off!
HERE WE GO
The teams are making their way out in Istanbul...
CAN THEY DO IT AGAIN?
Leipzig made it all the way to the Champions League semi-finals last season - the first time they'd even progressed beyond the group stage. They were handed a tough draw in Group H this year against the champions of France and Turkey, as well three-time European champions Manchester United, but they are very much still in the race after wins at home to PSG and tonight's opponents Basaksehir. Victory tonight will see them leapfrog PSG, who are in Manchester later on, and leave their qualification fate in their own hands when they host United next week.
2:03
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THREE CHANGES
The hosts make just three from their 3-3 draw with Denizlispor, which saw them throw away a 3-0 lead. Goalkeeper Mert Günok, former Stuttgart and Hamburg midfielder Berkay Özcan and left-back Boli Bolingoli replace Volkan Babacan, Nacer Chadli and Mahmut Tekdemir.
FIVE CHANGES
It’s five changes for Leipzig from their 2-1 win over Bielefeld. Ibrahima Konate, Marcel Sabitzer, Amadou Haidara, Yussuf Poulsen and Emil Forsberg are the new faces in place of Marcel Halstenberg, Willi Orban, Tyler Adams, Alexander Sorloth and Lazar Samardzic, who all drop to the bench.
It's a big game for RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League tonight. Away at Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir, Julian Nagelsmann can take another step towards the knockout stage for a second straight year. We'll have team news from both sides shortly.
