Leipzig bury Elversberg with four-goal second-half surge

Leipzig turn up the heat after the interval

RB Leipzig responded to their midweek defeat to Real Madrid with a commanding 4-0 Bundesliga win over Elversberg, scoring all four goals in the second half at the Red Bull Arena.

Leipzig manager Martín Demichelis made eight changes to his starting side. The hosts found chances hard to come by before the break, with Elversberg threatening through David Mokwa, whose long-range effort was turned over by Ørjan Nyland. Antonio Nusa also came close for Leipzig, curling narrowly wide.

Nusa inspires the breakthrough

Leipzig’s second-half substitute Rômulo helped change the tempo, but Nusa supplied the decisive spark. Three minutes after the restart, he drove past Jan Gyamerah and set up Tidiam Gomis, who swept in the opener.

Nusa then split the Elversberg defence with a pass for Rômulo. The Brazilian held off Lukas Pinckert before sliding the ball through goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof’s legs to make it 2-0 in the 66th minute.

Baumgartner returns, Rômulo completes the rout

Christoph Baumgartner, back from injury, came off the bench and headed in Brajan Gruda’s cross with six minutes remaining. In stoppage time, Leipzig debutant Abdoul Koné reached the byline and back-heeled the ball for Rômulo to score his second and seal the 4-0 result.

Nusa was named man of the match after creating the first two goals and being involved in Leipzig’s most threatening first-half moment. The victory extended Leipzig’s record run of Bundesliga home wins at the Red Bull Arena.