Werner's supersub display not enough as RB Leipzig lose
November 1, 2017
Porto 3 -1 RB Leipzig
(Herrera 13', Danilo 61', Maxi 90+3' - Werner 48')
RB Leipzig came away empty handed for the third match in succession as Porto punished some slack defending to leapfrog the German side in the table, despite Timo Werner's impact from the bench.
Much like the meeting between the sides two weeks ago,Wednesday's game started in an open, frenetic fashion but, unlike that encounter, it was the Portuguese side that took the lead.
The opener was a sloppy goal for Leipzig to concede. They lost the first ball from a corner and failed to clear a number of times before it dropped to Hector Herrera, who stroked a right-footed shot that squirmed through Peter Gulasci’s hands and in to the corner.
Without their attacking focal point Werner, who started the match on the bench, Leipzig struggled for quality in the final third in the opening period, Jean-Kevin Augustin and Bruma both finding themselves in good positions but lacking incision.
Instead it was midfielder Emil Forsberg who came closest for the visitors before the break, his long range free kick bringing a smart save from Jose Sa before a tap in was rightly ruled out for offside.
By that point, Ralph Hasenhüttl had seen enough, bringing on Werner at the break. His decision was rewarded almost immediately when the German international latched on to a Marcel Sabitzer through ball and lifted it instinctively over Sa.
But the goal didn’t act as the spur the Leipzig boss would’ve hoped and just before the hour mark, Danilo restored Porto’s lead. The midfielder seemed to stumble as he attempted to meet a free kick but got a good enough connection to nod home.
Leipzig failed to create much as they pushed for the point that would've left them as favorites to clinch second spot behind Besiktas in the group and were seen off when Maxi Periera burst through to finish off a simple counter-attack in injury time.
With a trip to Monaco and a home game against the Turkish table-toppers to come, Leipzig will now need to rely on others if they are to reach the knockout stages in their debut Champions League campaign.