First-half fireworks earn RBL 6-0 win over Köln

What a home win! Marco Rose's boys delivered an excellent performance in matchday 9's Bundesliga Topspiel, romping to a 6-0 victory over struggling 1. FC Köln at the Red Bull Arena.

RB Leipzig produced a scintillating first-half performance and already had the game all but wrapped up at the break thanks to a 4-0 lead. A high press from the get-go made life difficult for Köln, and Amadou Haidara's energy earned the hosts a penalty after 15 minutes, wich Timo Werner duly converted. The away side struggled to offer much of a threat, with Luca Waldschmidt's shot against the post their only notable effort in the first 45.

With the first half almost up, Leipzig produced some late fireworks to lead 4-0 at the interval. Xavi twice set up Loïs Openda, who made it back-to-back braces for Leipzig, while David Raum was able to head home a cross from Benjamin Henrichs in between the Belgian's double.

Marco Rose's side could afford to take their foot off the gas a little in the second half, yet easily continued to control proceedings. Werner was denied further goals by some good Marvin Schwäbe saves, and Janis Blaswich was needed on one occasion to brilliantly keep out former RBL striker Davie Selke. There was some late excitement to see off the over 46,000 fans in the Red Bull Arena though, with substitutes Benjamin Sesko and Christoph Baumgartner adding to the scoreline in the closing minutes.
 

Bundesliga | RB Leipzig vs. 1. FC Köln

LINE-UPS

RBL: Blaswich - Simakan, Klostermann (C), Castello Jr. – Henrichs, Schlager, Haidara, Raum (75' Lenz) – Xavi (63' Olmo, 70' Carvalho), Openda (75' Šeško), Werner (63' Baumgartner)

KOE: Schwäbe - Paqarada, Chabot (46' Kilian), Hübers, Carstensen - Martel, Ljubicic, Kainz (C, 70' Huseinbasic), Waldschmidt (70' Olesen), Maina (46' Alidou) - Selke (77' Uth)

Unused subs RBL: Gulacsi, Poulsen, Forsberg, Seiwald

Unused subs KOE: Köbbing, Schmitz, Heintz, Uth, Tigges, Olesen

Goals

1-0 Werner (15', pen.), 2-0 Openda (40'), 3-0 Raum (43'), 4-0 Openda (45+3'), 5-0 Sesko (88'), 6-0 Baumgartner (90+1')

Yellow cards

Simakan (2nd), Klostermann (2nd), Rose | Chabot (3rd), Olesen (1st), Baumgart

Red cards

Olesen

Team news

• Kevin Kampl was left out of the squad to face Köln in order to give him a rest.
   

Match officials

Referee: Benjamin Brand (Schwebheim)

1st assistant: Thomas Stein (Aschaffenburg)

2nd assistant: Markus Schüller (Korschenbroich)

Fourth official: Richard Hempel (Großnaundorf)

Video assistant: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden) 

Attendance

46,418 spectators in the Red Bull Arena
 

3rd minute: Openda with the first shot

A good start from the Leipzig boys. Xaver Schlager plays a perfectly weighted ball in behind the backline and Loïs Openda’s first-time shot across goal requires fingertips from Mavin Schwäbe to push it around the post. 
 

6th minute: Almost a Xavi stunner

That would have been some goal. Xavi’s first touch on the edge of the box pops up into the air perfectly to hit on the volley. He makes a sweet connection, and once again Schwäbe is needed to deny the opener.
 

15th minute: Werner strikes from the spot

RBL take a deserved lead! Amadou Haidara wins the ball just inside the Köln box and is hauled to the ground by Eric Martel. The referee points to the spot and Timo Werner converts the penalty to make it 1-0.
 

28th minute: RBL dominating

The first half hour or so has been a demonstration of Leipzig’s quality. The boys are hunting the Billy Goats down inside their own half and move the ball around quickly and directly when in possession. The back-three is looking incredibly solid too. Köln haven’t had an opening.
 

33rd minute: Köln hit the post

That was a close one. A little disorganisation at the back for the first time and Köln almost capitalise. Linton Maina’s drilled cross is met in the centre by Luca Waldschmidt, but his shot fortunately strikes the woodwork.
 

40th minute: Openda makes it 2-0

Brilliant football. Leipzig carve through midfield quickly once more. Xavi is the driving force and feeds Openda just inside the area, and our number 17 slams a thunderous shot into the roof of the net.
 

43rd minute: Quickfire double

Another one! We reclaim possession in the Köln yet again and the Billy Goats aren’t shaped up to deal with Benny Henrichs’ deep cross to the back post where an unmarked David Raum is able to head the ball home via Schwäbe and the post.
 

45th minute +3: Openda does it again

Four goals before half time! Again it’s Xavi and Openda who combine in deadly fashion. The Dutchman dribbles through the middle and spots his teammate on the edge of the box. A quick turn and shimmy from Openda opens the space for him to pick out the bottom corner.
 

47th minute: Werner strong out the restart

The boys carry on where they left off before the break. Werner is unchallenged as he collects the ball 18 yards out and looks to find the bottom corner. The Köln goalkeeper gets down quickly though and pushes the ball behind.
 

52nd minute: Werner vs. Schwäbe

Timo Werner more than deserves his brace by now. A long ball from Henrichs is brilliantly brought down by the Germany forward, but once again he is kept at bay by Schwäbe.
 

54th minute: Blaswich still alert

A rare chance for Janis Blaswich to show his quality isn’t wasted by the RBL goalkeeper. Dejan Ljubicic’s ball across the face is almost stuck away at the back post by Davie Selke, but Janis throws himself in the way and is able to make the block.
 

70th minute: Leipzig controlling proceedings

There’s a good 20 minutes or so to play and RBL continue to dominate. The pace of the game has understandably slowed somewhat, but there’s no danger of a Köln fightback.
 

81st minute: Köln down to ten men

Mathias Olesen catches Mo Simakan on the knee with a late challenge. He’s already on a yellow and the referee shows him another, followed by a red card. Köln will finish this game with ten men.
 

88th minute: Šeško gets in on the action

The goals are back late in the day! Benjamin Šeško is off the bench and onto the scoresheet, burying from close range after the ball dropped to him. 5-0!
 

90th minute +1: Baumgartner buries one from range

Half a dozen for RBL! Christoph Baumgartner has time to line up a curling effort from 25 yards and brilliantly wraps up a 6-0 win.