Julian Nagelsmann started his RB Leipzig career with a bang as his side hammered Bundesliga new boys Union Berlin 4-0, as the home fans staged a silent 15-minute protest against the visitors. Leipzig, one of the favourites to challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title this season, were always going to provide Union with a difficult initiation. It was the first time the capital city outfit had conceded four goals at home since November 2014, when they lost 4-1 to 1860 Munich. Christopher Nkunku, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, scored just three minutes after being substituted on for Germany striker Timo Werner, who also got on the scoresheet.
Marcel Halstenberg and Marcel Sabitzer also scored for the visitors, who took a 3-0 lead into halftime. Union Berlin fans used their debut fixture in the top-flight to stage a 15-minute silent protest aimed at opponents RB Leipzig’s ownership by an energy drinks company.
Home fans remained quiet for the opening quarter of an hour at the Stadion An der Alten Foersterei as an expression of their opposition to the way Leipzig are run. Red Bull controls the club in one of the few exceptions to German football’s “50+1” principal that members should own a majority of shares. Ironically, the visitors took the lead 57 seconds through Halstenberg after the Union crowd began to chant for the first time. Midfielder Halstenberg took advantage of a seemingly unfocused Berlin, curling home while unmarked on the edge of the box.
Leipzig added a second 15 minutes later as heavy rain began to fall, with Marcel Sabitzer punishing Berlin for a defensive mistake inside their own half. Werner added another in the 42nd minute with a powerful strike into the top corner, with the shellshocked home side struggling to keep up with the visitors’ talented outfit.
Nkunku’s goal in the 69th minute made it 4-0. The visitors became increasingly desperate to score a fifth in the closing stages, knowing that another goal would take them to the top of the table.
Earlier yesterday, a Martin Hinteregger strike after 36 seconds was enough to see Eintracht Frankfurt to a narrow 1-0 victory over TSG Hoffenheim in their opening game of the new Bundesliga season.
After winning an early corner in the opening 10 seconds, the Hoffenheim defence was caught off guard when Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada played it short to winger Filip Kostic played who curled it to the waiting Hinteregger who volleyed into the top of the net.
Scored after less than a minute, Hinteregger’s goal was the fastest Hoffenheim had conceded in Bundesliga history. Florian Niederlechner’s effort to put Augsburg 1-0 up against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, scored after 31 seconds, remains however the fastest goal of the opening round.
Kostic was a constant threat throughout for the home side, vindicating Frankfurt’s decision to make his loan deal permanent during the summer.
Hoffenheim thought they had equalised on two separate occasions — through Dennis Geiger in the 45th minute and again through Ishak Belfodil during second-half injury time — but both goals were ruled out for offside. Despite the loss, the visitors put in a strong performance under new coach Alfred Schreuder, showing promise as the side enters the post-Julian Nagelsmann era.
Bundesliga league results
Eintracht Frankfurt 1 (Hinteregger 1)
Hoffenheim 0; Union Berlin 0 RB Leipzig 4 (Halstenberg 16, Sabitzer 31, Werner 42, Nkunku 69)
Played Saturday: Borussia Moenchengladbach 0 Schalke 0; Werder Bremen 1 (Eggestein 47) Fortuna Duesseldorf 3 (Hennings 36, Karaman 52, Ayhan 64); Freiburg 3 (Hoeler 82, Schmid 84, Waldschmidt 87-pen) Mainz 0; Bayer Leverkusen 3 (Bailey 10, Havertz 19, Volland 69) Paderborn 2 (Michel 15, Mamba 25); Borussia Dortmund 5 (Alcacer 3, 59, Sancho 51, Reus 57, Brandt 82) Augsburg 1 (Niederlechner 1); Wolfsburg 2 (Arnold 16, Weghorst 60) Cologne 1 (Terodde 90+1)
Played Friday: Bayern Munich 2 (Lewandowski 24, 60-pen) Hertha Berlin 2 (Lukebakio 36, Grujic 39)
Union Berlin goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz (second right) saves a shot from RB Leipzig’s Diego Demme during the Bundesliga match in Berlin yesterday. (Reuters)
