Werner-less Leipzig stroll to opening day win over Mainz

RB Leipzig showed no signs of missing Timo Werner as they strolled to a comfortable 3-1 home win over hapless Mainz in their first Bundesliga game of the season.

Third in the table and Champions League semi-finalists last season, pundits in Germany had predicted a tougher ride for Leipzig this year after they sold star striker Werner to Chelsea.

Yet Julian Nagelsmann’s side were at their free-flowing best as they started the new campaign in

front of 8,500 fans, chalking up 23 shots on their way to a deserved win.

“It was simply amazing to play in front of our fans again. We put on a great performance for them today,” said Emil Forsberg, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot and set up another for Amadou Haidara.

“To beat the best teams you have to give 100%. If we’re as motivated as we were today, we’ll be among the top sides again.”

Leipzig have now scored 16 goals in their last three games against Mainz, who are preparing for another relegation dogfight this season.

“It’s no secret that we would like another striker because the season will be a demanding one, but our forwards did their job well today,” said Nagelsmann.

“If we had taken all our chances, we could have scored seven or eight.”

Despite the commanding display Nagelsmann warned that his side would have to up their game when they travel to Bayer Leverkusen next weekend.

“They are a tough opponent, so we will have to be that little bit better,” he said.

Leverkusen, who have also lost a star player in Kai Havertz to Chelsea, began their campaign with a goalless draw at Wolfsburg in Sunday’s other game. — AFP