Tidiam Gomis opened the scoring on 17 minutes, steering in from close range after Ezechiel Banzuzi’s measured cross. Antonio Nusa doubled it at 28 minutes with a precise right-foot finish from the edge of the area. Leipzig had to replace Assan Ouédraogo on 35 minutes due to injury, bringing on Christopher Nkunku, yet the rhythm barely flickered. Halftime arrived at 2-0 with Leipzig up 57% possession and nine shots to four.

The second half delivered the avalanche. Willi Orbán made it 3-0 on 72 minutes, converting a set-piece chance after Nusa’s delivery kept HSV pinned back. Three minutes later, Nkunku swept in the fourth from a Nusa assist after a slick move through the right channel. Substitute Rômulo completed the scoring at 77 minutes with a powerful right-foot effort that carried 0.54 xG on the strike alone. Bookings dotted the flow, with Nicolás Capaldo cautioned early on 6 minutes, Castello Lukeba on 48, and Shafiq Nandja on 71.

Control and passing that set the stage

Leipzig’s control was steady first, then suffocating. Possession finished 64% to 36%, and the hosts completed 557 of 625 passes compared to HSV’s 286 of 350. Final third entries leaned Leipzig’s way at 65 to 53, and the final-third pass phase success read 117 of 151 for 77% versus 65 of 96 for 68%. Cross accuracy edged to the hosts at 4 of 15 against 2 of 11, but the real difference came in how fast Leipzig strung sequences together into the box.

Long balls were not overused, only sharpened when needed: Leipzig hit 20 of 36 for 56% accuracy, HSV posted 14 of 33 at 42%. David Raum was a constant outlet with 71 accurate passes and 4 key passes, while Orbán and Lukeba built play cleanly from the back. Leipzig’s touches in the penalty area reached 30, helping squeeze HSV into frequent last-ditch actions. By the whistle, HSV had logged 28 clearances to Leipzig’s 14, an unmistakable sign of who dictated territory.

Finishing, xG story and the big moments

Shot volume and shot quality both leaned toward the home side. Leipzig produced 19 attempts to HSV’s 10, with 6 on target to 4, and an expected goals total of 2.38 to 0.94. Expected Goals on Target told the finishing tale, 3.49 to 0.61, mapping neatly to the 5-0 score. Big chances ended 3 to 1, and Leipzig converted all three of theirs.

Errors weighed heavily on HSV’s night, with two mistakes leading directly to goals. At the other end, Maarten Vandevoordt stood tall with 4 saves and 0.61 goals prevented, including one big stop that protected the clean sheet. Daniel Fernandes finished with 1 save and a -1.51 goals prevented figure, reflecting how precise Leipzig’s shooting became after the interval. Leipzig also kept their line tidy with zero offsides, while HSV were flagged three times.

Defending the box and the duels

Leipzig’s work without the ball was efficient and calmly aggressive. Duels favored the hosts 55% to 45%, supported by strong splits in ground duels at 53% and aerials at 63%. Dribble success also tilted to Leipzig 62% to 56%, a small edge that amplified in dangerous zones. Tackles won percentage hit 82% for the hosts, 80% for HSV, yet Leipzig’s timing blunted transitions before they became problems.

HSV did win the interceptions battle 9 to 5 and posted 41 recoveries to Leipzig’s 45, but most of that work came deep as they tried to stem waves. Their 28 clearances told the larger story, forced under stretches of sustained pressure. Fouls were similar, 11 to 13, but the bookings ledger leaned on the visitors. Leipzig limited mistakes to one error leading to a shot and none to a goal, a clean night in risk management.

MVP: Antonio Nusa

Antonio Nusa delivered a complete wide-forward performance and earned a 9.2 Sofascore Rating. He scored once, assisted twice and created two big chances, with 3 key passes powering Leipzig’s best attacking moments. His 24 of 29 passing and 6 of 7 duels won showed security on the ball and bite without it. Add 4 recoveries, 17 carries and a constant threat down the right, and the picture becomes clear.

Nusa’s fingerprints were on the pivotal second-half surge. He teed up Orbán for 3-0, then slid the pass for Nkunku’s 4-0 before the hourglass emptied on HSV. Around him, Maarten Vandevoordt (8.4) backed the scoreline with sharp handling, while early scorer Tidiam Gomis (8.1) and impact sub Rômulo (7.9) added timely end product. The headline, though, belonged to Leipzig’s No. 7.