RB Leipzig easily dispatched FC Augsburg as they put Champions League qualification back into their own hands.

With one game left of the Bundesliga season, Leipzig know if they better or equal SC Freiburg and Union Berlin's results they will qualify for next season's Champions League.

This is due to an impressive home performance which saw Christopher Nkunku score a brace to once again show why he is being touted to win Bundesliga Player of the Season.  

Andre Silva and Emil Forsberg scored the other goals as the already safe FC Augsburg rolled over in the second half after a resolute first half display.

  • Story of the match

Augsburg started the game on top and gave the home faithful a nervy opening ten minutes as they produced five shots, although only two of them were on target.

There was however a big chance for Leipzig’s striker, Silva as his right footed shot from a Nordi Mukiele delivery was well saved by Rafal Gikiewicz down to his left.

The game continued on in a cagey manner the rest of the first half with neither keeper being overly tested as Leipzig’s European exploits seemed to be affecting them.

Just as the home crowd were getting a bit restless Leipzig finally struck through Portuguese international Silva.

The ball fortunately fell to the 26-year-old outside the box after an Augsburg defender blocked a through ball but Silva took one touch to compose himself before he fired home into the bottom corner.

After being dropped for the massive European tie on Thursday night the striker would have enjoyed bagging his 11th goal of the campaign even more.

The half-time whistle came at the right time for Augsburg as the goal really livened Leipzig into action as they started to press better and play quick forward-thinking football. 

Half-time: RB Leipzig 1 - 0 FC Augsburg

Leipzig continued their fine end to the first half into the second half as they doubled their lead in the 48th minute through top goalscorer, Nkunku.

For once it wasn’t all about the Frenchman as it was the contribution of fellow country man, Mukiele who ran in behind after a delightful one-two with Forsberg before cutting it back perfectly to Nkunku who buried it into the open net with a right-footed finish. 

It was that same combination that led to Leipzig’s third goal as Mukiele was played in behind by Konrad Laimer this time before supplying Nkunku again who was so composed to take two touches before firing low into the net.

That was Nkunku’s 20th Bundesliga goal of the season illustrating how much he has matured as a player as his best goalscoring season before this campaign was five goals. 

The 24-year-old was denied a hat trick minutes later as Emil Forsberg was given the penalty duties after a VAR review gave Leipzig a penalty because Mukiele was pushed in the back from a corner.

The Swedish International coolly slotted the penalty low to Gikiewicz’s left to put Leipzig four goals up.

Leipzig nearly had a fourth on the 70th minute mark as Silva put the ball in the back of the net for the second time of the day but the ball had crossed the line before Laimer pulled it back to the striker.

Before the game began FC Augsburg confirmed their status in the Bundesliga for the 12th straight season and as the second-half went on it seemed it was more damage limitation.  

Leipzig continued to press and create chances, with the highlight being a shot dragged wide from centre back Marcel Halstenberg in the 75th minute.

But as the changes came they lost their threat late on with substitute keeper, Phillip Tschauner even getting on late on for his first bit of game time of the season. 

Full-time: RB Leipzig 4 - 0 FC Augsburg

  • Takeaways

Unstoppable Nkunku

The Frenchman just can't be stopped this season it seems.

Even in the two defeats this week the star man scored to keep his fine form going and today he reached another milestone as he grabbed his 20th goal of the Bundesliga campaign putting him fourth in the Bundesliga scoring charts.

The 24-year-old was none existent in the first half as he struggled to get into the game and put his regular class and trickery on show but as the pace of the game quickened he rose to the occasion.

It will be vital next week that Leipzig qualify for the Champions League as this young man after the season he has had will want to be playing with Europe's elite next season whether that is with Leipzig or another team.

Although fellow Frenchman, Nkunku may get the headlines with his two goals and reaching 20 goals in the league for the season, Mukiele was the main reason Leipzig took total grip of the game in the second half.

The right wing-back was an option all game and it was his runs in behind and perfect set ups that led to Leipzig’s second and third goal.

He provided two assists, kept a clean sheet and won the penalty for Leipzig’s fourth goal which put the game to bed. 

The 24-year-old’s athleticism and physicality was too much for Augsburg in the second half and the defender by trade was even starting to bring out the flicks and tricks near the end of the game showing just how much he was enjoying his afternoon.

With the DFB Pokal Cup final on the horizon many would begrudge the Frenchman a starting role at right wing-back as RB Leipzig look to win their first bit of Silverware in the club’s history. 

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