Timo Werner and RB Leipzig left frustrated in UEFA Champions League defeat to Lyon
Timo Werner and RB Leipzig were enormously unfortunate to come away from the Red Bull Arena with nothing after losing 2-0 to Lyon in their UEFA Champions League Group G encounter.
As it happened
RB Leipzig 0-2 Lyon
Goals: 0-1 Memphis (11'), 0-2 Terrier (65')
90+4' FULL-TIME!
Well, you have to feel for Leipzig there. They had their chances and were the better side throughout but were punished by two clinical pieces of finishing. A frustrating night all round but one they will hope to immediately bounce back from at the weekend when they travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Thanks for joining us!
89' CLASH OF HEADS
Poulsen and Lopes challenge for a ball and both bump heads in the process. Both players are checked out by their team doctors and, thankfully, up on their feet.
87' FINAL SUBSTITUTION
And it's Lyon who make it, Jean Lucas coming on in place of Aouar.
85' NOT LOOKING LIKE LEIPZIG'S DAY
We're edging ever closer to a frustrating defeat for Leipzig. They've had 17 shots to Lyon's 10 so far, with the visitors scoring with both of their two shots on target. Football Manager players the world over will relate to Leipzig's annoyance at that stat.
79' MEMPHIS DEPARTS
Depay is replaced by Lyon's top scorer, Dembele.
77' BIG, BIG CHANCE
Mukiele has a free header from 10 yards out but can only send it wide. It was a superb ball in from Nkunku's free-kick and although Mukiele may have been offside, it's increasingly looking like Leipzig will be left ruing missing these chances.
75' FINAL 15
We're into the last quarter of an hour now and Leipzig need some late magic to get something from this game. Will Werner, Poulsen, Forsberg, Sabitzer & Co. provide some? Time is of the essence if they are to.
69' LYON SUB
Terrier heads for the showers with Traore on in his place.
66' NKUNKU ON
Nagelsmann's response to that second goal is to bring Nkunku on for Upamecano. Will most likely see Leipzig go to a back four.
65' GOAL! MARTIN TERRIER!
Terrier by name, Terrier by nature. The midfielder presses Mukiele and robs possession before going past Gulacsi and tapping home a second for Lyon.
61' SABITZER THUMPER
The Leipzig man lets fly from range but it's straight at Lopes. It's been all Leipzig so far this half. They've looked more composed and are playing with real intent. They deserve at least an equaliser.
57' BOTH COACHES BOOKED!
Um, not sure what's happened here but both Nagelsmann and Sylvinho have gone into the book. A bit of a bizarre one. Meanwhile, Haidara is replaced by Forsberg for the hosts.
53' POULSEN GOES CLOSE
This is much better from the home side. Halstenberg's lovely ball in from the left finds Poulsen, who heads about a foot over. It was a difficult chance and he did well to go so near. Importantly, it's another promising early foray in this second-half.
51' DRIVING MARCEL
A great run from Halstenberg who unleashes from distance on that beaut of a left foot of his but Lopes saves well, diving to his left. Good early signs of adventure from Leipzig.
50' LEIPZIG'S OPTIONS
The longer Leipzig trail, the more Nagelsmann will look to his bench, where he has Forsberg, Nkunku and Cunha as his most attacking options should his side be chasing a goal as this half wears on. Some very handy players to call upon.
46' BACK UNDERWAY!
Right then, can Leipzig get back into this one? Let's find out...
A LOOK ELSEWHERE IN GROUP G
The other game in Group G tonight currently sees Zenit 1-0 ahead against Benfica in Russia. If things stay as they are then Zenit will go top of the group this evening with four points, with Lyon in second on the same, Leipzig third with three and Benfica bottom without a point. A Leipzig win would send them top, a draw might be enough too.
45+1' HALF-TIME!
You have to feel Nagelsmann and Leipzig will be frustrated to be behind at the referee's half-time whistle. Werner's two big chances, plus Poulsen's cleared header could each have gone in, while Memphis clinically took Lyon's only real chance of note at the other end. Cat and mouse stuff so far and the hosts are unfortunate to be trailing at the break.
41' LYON GOAL DISALLOWED
A lump over the top frees Memphis, who thinks he's slotted home a second but is clearly offside.
40' CLOSING IN ON HALF-TIME
Nagelsmann will be hoping his side can grab a late first half equaliser, one they largely deserve. Five minutes to the break and Leipzig continue to look to press, Lyon continue to look to pounce.
33' OFF THE LINE!
It just won't fall for Leipzig at the minute. Werner's superb shot across goal is well saved and Poulsen thinks he's headed home the rebound only for it to be cleared off the line. We're getting closer and closer to seeing that equaliser.
31' MUKIELE ON TARGET
The substitute turns superbly and gets away a volley at goal but it's straight at the keeper. Leipzig are really pressing at the minute and Lyon are somewhat camped in their own half. Like Leipzig, however, they are a serious threat on the counter.
27' KONATE GOES OFF
In the excitement of Werner so nearly pulling his side level, we've missed a Leipzig sub. Konate goes off injured after over stretching for a ball, with Mukiele on in his place. No change in setup, with Mukiele slotting straight in on the right hand side of the back three.
23' WERNER NEARLY LEVELS
Is someone playing in a Werner disguise? The Germany international misses another chance that he'd normally slot home nine times out of ten. This must have somehow been the tenth as he lifts over goal when he has just the keeper to beat. You can put your house on him not missing one of these chances again. Surely it's a matter of time before it's 1-1?
18' LEIPZIG SEARCH FOR EQUALISER
That goal has knocked the stuffing out of the hosts a little who could have been so easily in front had Werner not missed his early chance. They've still enjoying most of the possession but haven't quite carved out another opportunity just yet. Knowing this team, they will do eventually.
11' GOAL! MEMPHIS DEPAY!
Well, we picked him out as the danger man before kick-off and that's exactly why. Memphis pounces on Aouar's steal and finishes cooly beyond Gulacsi. Not the start Leipzig hoped for but it's completely against the run of play.
5' WERNER GOES CLOSE
Oh my, Leipzig are so close to taking the lead. A sumptuous ball in from the right finds Werner free just seven yards out but his left footed effort goes narrowly wide. He can't believe he's not put his side in front there.
1' KICK-OFF!
Right then, here we go! An impressive looking Red Bull Arena is certainly in the mood tonight. This should be a cracker.
ALMOST TIME
The warm-ups have wound down and the players have returned to the changing rooms for their final instructions. We'll be up and running shortly.
FIVE AT THE BACK FOR LYON
Lyon, with two defeats and three draws in their last five competitive outings, are employing safety first tactics here by starting with five at the back to counteract Leipzig's rapid attacking transitions. Dembele, Lyon's top scorer this term with six goals, is surprisingly on the bench, with Terrier joining Memphis up top.
NO FORSBERG FOR LEIPZIG
Nagelsmann has sprung a surprise by leaving out in-form playmaker Emil Forsberg from the starting line-up, perhaps opting for greater defensive stability by fielding Laimer in defensive midfield, with Germany internationals Klostermann and Halstenberg in the wing-back roles on the flanks. Amadou Haidara makes just his second start of the season in attacking midfield.
NAGELSMANN WARY
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann has urged his side to forget Lyon's recent inconsistent form and focus on getting another win. "It's always dangerous when a team's got their backs to the wall," said the 32-year-old at his pre-match press conference.
"Lyon have got great individual players with a lot of potential. It's up to us to go into the game with the right attitude and aggression. We need to show willingness and hurt the opposition. It would be wrong of us to approach the game thinking that Lyon haven't had good results recently."
BIG CHANCE FOR LEIPZIG
Lyon drew their opening game 1-1 at home to Zenit St. Petersburg, while Julian Nagelsmann's side recorded an impressive 2-1 win away to Benfica. A home win here would therefore open up a five-point gap between the sides and cement Leipzig's place at the top of the standings.
WELCOME!
Hello and welcome to tonight's live coverage of Leipzig's UEFA Champions League Group G encounter at home to Olympique Lyon. Stay tuned as we bring you all the pre-match updates, team news, line-ups and real-time match coverage!
Line-ups
Leipzig: Gulacsi – Konate (Mukiele 23'), Upamecano (Nkunku 66'), Orban (c) – Laimer - Klostermann (Forsberg 58'), Haidara, Sabitzer, Halstenberg – Poulsen, Werner
Unused subs: Mvogo, Saracchi, Cunha, Demme
Out: Adams (groin), Kampl (ankle), Wolf (ankle), Schick (match fitness)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Lyon: Lopes – Dubois (c), Marcelo, Andersen, Marcal, Kone - Mendes, Tousart, Aouar (Jean Lucas 87') - Memphis (Dembele 79'), Terrier (Traore 69')
Unused subs: Tatarusanku, Rafael, Reine-Adelaide, Tete
Out: Denayer (knock)
Coach: Sylvinho
Match stats
- Werner has five goals in six career Champions League appearances, three more than any other player for Leipzig.
- Marcel Sabitzer has had a hand in eight goals in all competitions this season (four goals and four assists). That is the most for Leipzig together with Werner (seven goals and one assist).
- Nagelsmann faced Lyon twice last season while in charge of Hoffenheim, drawing 3-3 in France before a 2-2 draw at home.
- Leipzig have faced French opposition five times in their short European history, which is more than any other nation. Their largest continental win to date came away at Monaco in November 2017 (4-1).
- Marcelo made 77 Bundesliga appearances for Hannover, scoring three goals between 2013 and 2016.
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