Lisbon (AP) - When FC Bayern Munich was in the final of the Champions League for the last time in 2013 and defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in London, RB Leipzig had just moved up from the Regionalliga Nordost to the 3rd division.
A good seven years later, the Saxons are represented alongside the German record champions at the premier class blitz tournament in Lisbon. On Thursday (9 p.m. / Sky) the quarter-finals will be played against Atlético Madrid at the Éstadio José Alvalade.
THE PREMIERE: On September 13, 2017, RB will host AS Monaco in the Leipzig Red Bull Arena for their first ever European Cup game. Emil Forsberg scores the Saxons' first premier class goal. Monaco equalized immediately in a tactical game. One point at the start is respectable.
THE FIRST VICTORY: In a wild game against FC Porto on October 17, 2017, the first victory in the premier class succeeded in the third game. Forsberg is again on target, and Willi Orban and Jean-Kevin Augustin scored the 3-2 goals in the first half. It is evident early on: Portuguese opponents are RB.
TRAINING MONEY: Even the 2-0 first leg at Besiktas Istanbul was painful. Timo Werner suffers a sudden hearing loss. In the second leg against the Turks on December 6, 2017, the possible entry into the round of 16 will be gambled away at 1: 2. Besiktas is just smarter. RB has to continue as third in the Europa League and fails in the quarter-finals at Olympique Marseille.
LISBON: Two years after the debut, RB is back in the Champions League. Ironically, this year's final location in Lisbon in the form of Top Club Benfica provides moments of happiness. In the first leg on September 17, 2019, Timo Werner got off to a perfect start with a 2-1 win at Éstadio da Luz. In the second leg on November 27, 2019, after a 2-0 defeat by a Forsberg double in the final minutes, the 2-2 as the cornerstone for the round of 16. According to coach Julian Nagelsmann, the Leipzig goose bumps moment in the Champions League so far.
THE MATURITY TEST: The first knockout game in the premier class becomes the RB maturity test. The Saxons dominate last year's finalists Tottenham Hotspur on White Hart Lane. Much more than the 1-0 by Werner is possible on February 19, 2020. Nagelsmann triumphs over the great José Mourinho. In the second leg on March 10, 2020 you never leave any doubts at 3-0. Leipzig is much better than the highly acclaimed Premier League club. Sad aspect: It is the last game in front of spectators before the Corona break.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200811-99-132469 / 3
UEFA minutes of resumption of play
Champions League regulations
Champions League schedule
Information RB Leipzig on the Champions League tournament
