Josko Gvardiol, Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner all scored in the UEFA Champions League as RB Leipzig inflicted a first defeat of the season on record winners Real Madrid.

RB Leipzig 3-2 Real Madrid
Goals: 1-0 Gvardiol (13’), 2-0 Nkunku (18’), 2-1 Vinicius (44’), 3-1 Werner (81’), 3-2 Rodrygo (pen. 90'+4)

Knowing a victory against Real could guarantee them a place in the knockout stage if Shakhtar Donetsk also lost their game away at Celtic, Leipzig showed no fear against the record Champions League winners and holders. As they did in the reverse fixture, Marco Rose’s men created a string of first-half chances. The difference here was that they took them. Gvardiol was quickest to react after Thibaut Courtois produced an excellent save to deny Andre Silva at a corner, but the Croatian defender nodded in the rebound to put Die Roten Bullen ahead. The lead was doubled five minutes later when a David Raum shot was blocked into the path of Nkunku and he fired a shot off the underside of the crossbar from 10 yards. Carlo Ancelotti’s side saw more of the ball but failed to create much. Janis Blaswich made a comfortable save off a Rodrygo shot but was beaten on the stroke of half-time when Vinicius Junior powered home a header from a Marco Asensio cross.

Los Blancos came out with greater intent after the restart but failed to muster up any clear-cut chances, with Willi Orban and Gvardiol keeping things tight at the back. The introduction of Werner added more pace to the Leipzig attack as space opened up and the Germany international fired an effort just wide on the angle moments after coming on. There was no mistake from the substitute with eight minutes to go when Leipzig countered through Mohamed Simakan and he squared for Werner to turn in at the far post. The visitors got one more back when Rodrygo converted a penalty deep into added time. Shakhtar’s draw at Celtic means Leipzig aren’t quite through yet – RB will simply need to avoid defeat when they face the Ukrainians next week. But the DFB Cup holders do become the first team to beat the reigning European champions in any competition this season.

Match stats

• Leipzig became the first team ever to score two goals in the first 18 minutes of a Champions League group game against Real Madrid.
• Gvardiol got his first Champions League goal in his eighth game and his third in 60 appearances for Leipzig.
• Nkunku is Leipzig’s 12-goal top scorer this season from 18 appearances – four more than Real’s best scorer, Vinicius.
• His 10 Champions League goals ties him with Emil Forsberg as Leipzig’s all-time top scorer in the competition.
• Leipzig have won nine of their last 15 European home games (D4, L2).
• Die Roten Bullen’s record against Spanish clubs reads W3, D1, L1. Real have now lost 20 of their 35 visits to Germany (W7, D8).

Teams

Leipzig: Blaswich - Simakan (Henrichs 89’), Orban (c), Gvardiol, Raum (Diallo 69’) - Haidara (Kampl 84’), Schlager - Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Forsberg (Olmo 69’) - Silva (Werner 69’)
Unused subs: Nickisch, Poulsen, Novoa, Henrichs
Out: Gulacsi (knee), Halstenberg (illness), Klostermann (ankle), Laimer (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose

Madrid: Courtois - Vasquez (Carvajal 69’), Militao, Rüdiger, Nacho (Alaba 69’) - Camavinga, Tchouameni, Kroos (Hazard 76’) - Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinicius
Unused subs: Lunin, Lopez, Vallejo, Odriozola, Mendy, Dotor, Arribas, Rodriguez
Out: Benzema (muscular), Ceballos (muscular), Modric (adductor), Valverde (knock)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

As it happened!

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