Home » News » Christopher Nkunku’s free-kick art: RB Leipzig overtakes Cologne

Christopher Nkunku’s free-kick art: RB Leipzig overtakes Cologne

RB Leipzig opened the 22nd matchday with a 3:1 win over 1. FC Köln. The sixth victory under Domenico Tedesco was basically never in danger – and also had a Spanish touch.

Brought RB Leipzig ahead with a nice free kick: Christopher Nkunku.

imago images/Matthias Koch

Leipzig has recently been much more stable under Domenico Tedesco – and RB was also the more dominant team against Cologne. With two changes in the starting eleven compared to the narrow 2:3 at Bayern (Haidara and Henrichs started for Kampl and Mukiele), the Saxons had to work their way into the game first. Cologne were very good against the ball at the beginning, many passes from the home side were lost in midfield.

FC coach Steffen Baumgart, who had to watch the recent 1-0 win against Freiburg in front of the TV due to the corona, had prepared his team well for Leipzig’s combination game. However, the 50-year-old had to change his last successful starting eleven: Andersson replaced top scorer Modeste, who was ill with COVID-19, and Duda and Skhiri also started for Uth and Ljubicic.

player of the game

RB Leipzig

Dani Olmo
midfield

2


player of the game

RB Leipzig

Dani Olmo
midfield

2

Offensive all-rounder Dani Olmo was involved in all three Leipzig goals. The Spaniard won the free-kick that Nkunku took advantage of, scoring to make it 2-0 and serving cleverly for Angelino.



game grade

An intense match with goals worth seeing. However, the game also had lengths and was also decided early on.

3


game grade

An intense match with goals worth seeing. However, the game also had lengths and was also decided early on.

3




goals and cards

1:0
Nkunku (25′, direct free kick, right foot shot)

2:0
Dani Olmo (54′, right foot, A. Haidara)

3:0
Angelino (57′, left foot, Dani Olmo)

3:1
Lemperle (90′, header, Uth)


goals and cards

1:0
Nkunku (25′, direct free kick, right foot shot)

2:0
Dani Olmo (54′, right foot, A. Haidara)

3:0
Angelino (57′, left foot, Dani Olmo)

3:1
Lemperle (90′, header, Uth)

RB Leipzig

1. FC Cologne

Thielmann (9. )Hubers (35. )




RB Leipzig

Leipzig

Gulacsi3 – Klostermann3 Orban3Guardiola2,5 – Henrichs3Laimer3 A. Haidara2,5Angelino2,5 Dani Olmo2 – Silva4 Nkunku2



RB Leipzig

Leipzig

lineup

Gulacsi3 – Klostermann3 Orban3Guardiola2,5 – Henrichs3Laimer3 A. Haidara2,5Angelino2,5 Dani Olmo2 – Silva4 Nkunku2

substitutions

reserve bank

Trainer:




1. FC Cologne

Köln

Swabian3 – Schmitz3,5Kilian3,5Hubers3,5 Hector4 – Skhiri3,5 Ozcan5Thielmann5 Duda5 Kainz5 – Andersson5



1. FC Cologne

Köln

lineup

Swabian3 – Schmitz3,5Kilian3,5Hubers3,5 Hector4 – Skhiri3,5 Ozcan5Thielmann5 Duda5 Kainz5 – Andersson5

substitutions

reserve bank

Trainer:



referee team

Florian Badstübner

Florian Badstübner
Windsbach

2


referee team

Florian Badstübner

Florian Badstübner
Windsbach

2

Confident gameplay with a pleasingly generous and clear line. Was correct in all major decisions and personal penalties.

  • assistants
  • Markus Schuller
    (Korschenbroich)

  • Eduard Beitinger
    (Regensburg)

  • Fourth Official
  • Florian Lechner
    (Hornstorf)

  • Video-Assist
  • Marco Fritz
    (Basket)



game info

Viewers

15,000 (sold out)


game info

kicking off

02/11/2022, 8:30 p.m

Stadium

Red Bull Arena Leipzig

Viewers

15,000 (sold out)










The absence of Modeste was noticeable to FC, with the Frenchman missing the usual target player in attack. Andersson worked diligently against the ball, but the Swede was mostly in the air offensively – in the first half he only had eight ball contacts.

Nkunku first unselfish, then dreamlike

After 20 minutes, the hosts slowly found their way into the game, and RB cleverly broke away from Cologne’s sudden attack pressing. After a pass from Angelino in the penalty area, Nkunku missed the shot himself (23′), but two minutes later the Frenchman finally gave RB the lead: Leipzig’s top scorer sank a free kick from 18 meters straight into the left corner, Schwäbe could not do anything against the beautiful Schlenzer.

With the lead in the back, Leipzig became more dominant, but played a few attacks uncleanly until the break – the complicated pass was often preferred to the simple pass. Meanwhile, Cologne didn’t get forward at all, and Gulacsi didn’t even have to intervene in the first half.

Dani Olmo and Angelino make the decision

That didn’t change after the restart, even if RB slept through the first few minutes in the second half. Cologne couldn’t take advantage of this – and were caught twice as a result: First Dani Olmo increased the lead to 2-0 with a precise shot from around 20 meters into the left corner (54th), then Angelino made sure of a nice counterattack and a pass from Dani Olmo for the decision (57th).

However, FC did not fall apart as a result, the billy goats continued to win many duels. Only in front of the goal did the guests not succeed – until injury time: Substitute Lemperle headed in a corner from Uth from close range and finally rewarded FC for a brave final phase with the consolation goal to make it 1: 3 (90th minute). +1).

With their sixth win under Tedesco, Leipzig overtakes FC and is in fourth place for the time being. On Sunday, February 20 (7:30 p.m.), the Saxons are guests at Hertha BSC. Cologne welcomes Eintracht Frankfurt the night before (6.30 p.m.).

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