Leipzig warms up for Liverpool by beating Augsburg 2-1

Leipzig warmed up for Liverpool in the Champions League with a hard-fought 2-1 win over visiting Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday.

Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann would be relieved to see his team consolidate second place without any major injury worries ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 first leg game in Budapest. The match was switched to Hungary as German authorities did not give Liverpool an exemption against restrictions affecting visitors from Britain due to coronavirus mutations.

Leipzig had to wait till the 38th minute for the breakthrough with Dani Olmo scoring a penalty at the second attempt. Rafał Gikiewicz saved the Spaniard’s first attempt but was ordered to face him again after a VAR check showed he moved ahead of the goal-line before saving.

Augsburg's Rani Khedira and Leipzig's goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi battle for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)

Gikiewicz had been booked already for complaining when Reece Oxford conceded the penalty for catching Nordi Mukiele as he attempted a clearance, so the Polish goalkeeper had to restrain himself from further complaints despite his evident annoyance.

Olmo seized his second chance and Yussuf Poulsen set up Christopher Nkunku for Leipzig’s second goal five minutes later.

Augsburg offered little in response until Leipzig substitute Ibrahima Konaté conceded a penalty for a foul on Mads Pedersen.

Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku, left, and Augsburg's Jeffrey Gouweleeuw challenge for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)

Daniel Caligiuri converted the visitors’ first real chance from the spot in the 77th.

Nkunku struck the post late on and Leipzig survived a goalmouth scramble in injury time to see out the win.

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Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen, left, and Augsburg's Mads Pedersen challenge for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)

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Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen, right, and Augsburg's Tobias Strobl challenge for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)

Augsburg's goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz kicks the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)

Augsburg's Tobias Strobl, right, and Leipzig's Daniel Olmo challenge for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (AP PhotoMichael Sohn)

Augsburg's Andre Hahn, left, and Leipzig's Tyler Adams during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (Jan Woitasdpa via AP)