Nkunku strikes again as Leipzig win eases pressure

RB Leipzig eased the pressure on coach Jesse Marsch as Christopher Nkunku scored twice in a 3-0 home win over Bundesliga strugglers Bochum. Portugal striker Andre Silva scored just 42 seconds after coming on mid way through the second-half to break the deadlock before Nkunku took his tally this season to nine goals in 10 games in all competitions. "It was a real struggle," said Marsch, "it was an important moment for Andre and for us when he scored."

Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff before kick-off admitted results are 'not what we imagined' after last Tuesday's home defeat by Club Brugge in the Champions League which followed a 6-3 drubbing at Manchester City. After Nkunku netted Leipzig's second with a deft chip over Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann, a relieved Marsch celebrated with his players on the sidelines. "Things aren't easy for us, but it is no bad thing when we have to fight for everything," added Marsch.

The result lifts Leipzig to seventh, six points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who were hosting Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday. Earlier, Borussia Dortmund proved they can win in the Bundesliga without injured star striker Erling Braut Haaland by grabbing a 2-1 victory at home to Augsburg.

With Haaland again in the stands at Signal Iduna Park, having also missed Tuesday's Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon with a persistent leg injury, Dortmund bounced back from last week's defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Haaland is also set to miss Norway's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Turkey and Montenegro.