Timo Werner was on target as DFB Cup holders RB Leipzig made light work of Hoffenheim to reach this season’s quarter-finals, whilst extending their unbeaten run to 17 competitive matches.

RB Leipzig 3-1 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Forsberg 8' (assist: Laimer), 2-0 Laimer 41' (assist: Simakan), 2-1 Dolberg 76' (assist: Angelino), 3-1 Werner 84' (assist: Poulsen)

The writing was on the wall for Hoffenheim as Willi Orban directed a Josko Gvardiol cross narrowly wide inside the opening 120 seconds. Leipzig were all over the visitors and duly hit the front in the eighth minute, when Emil Forsberg was allowed to run at the defence and arrow a superb shot in off the upright from range. Hoffenheim threatened sporadically as an attacking unit, but were undone once again on the half-hour mark. Mohamed Simakan crossed for Konrad Laimer, who spun his marker in the box and lashed past goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Werner went close to a third, but Baumann was able to make the stop.

Baumann was at it again soon after the restart, Hoffenheim’s captain thwarting Werner in a promising one-on-one before the linesman raised his flag for offside. Ozan Kabak made a crucial block to prevent Dominik Szoboslzai sending Werner in on goal as Leipzig went for the jugular. Werner was played in again soon after, but sent his shot wide from an offside position. Substitute Kasper Dolberg halved the deficit when he headed in a cross from Leipzig loanee Angelino, only for Werner to restore Leipzig’s two-goal advantage with an emphatic close-range finish. Stanley Nsoki’s late sending off compounded a tough night at the office for Andre Breitenreiter’s side, who are winless since 18 October.

Match stats

• Werner is the highest-scoring Bundesliga player left in this season's DFB Cup (four goals).
• On the three previous occasions Leipzig have advanced beyond the last 16, they have gone on to reach the final.
• Forsberg now has five goals in all competitions this season: two in the Bundesliga, one in the Champions League and now two in three games in the DFB Cup.
• Borussia Mönchengladbach were the last team to beat Leipzig in all competitions (17 September 2022).
• Leipzig, who also beat Hoffenheim in the 2018/19 DFB Cup first round, have won eight of the teams' 14 competitive meetings to date (D3, L3).
• Dolberg scored his first senior club goal since 1 March 2022 (for Nice in the Coupe de France).

Teams

Leipzig: Nyland - Simakan, Orban (c), Gvardiol (Henrichs 46'), Halstenberg - Laimer, Schlager (Kampl 79') - Szoboszlai, Forsberg (Haidara 73') - Werner (Klostermann 89'), Silva (Poulsen 79')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Raum, Ba
Out: Diallo (knee), Gulacsi (knee), Nkunku (knee), Olmo (thigh)
Coach: Marco Rose

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Kabak, Brooks, Nsoki - Akpoguma (Delaney 46'), Baumgartner (Becker 58'), Tohumcu (Dolberg 68'), Angelino - Kramaric (Bischof 79') - Dabbur, Bebou (Che 79')
Unused subs: Philipp, Bicakcic, Rudy, Quaresma
Out: Bruun Larsen (groin), Geiger (ill), Kaderabek (knock), Prömel (ankle), Skov (calf), Stiller (calf), Vogt (thigh)
Coach: Andre Breitenreiter

As it happened

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