RB Leipzig vs Man United – Match History
RB Leipzig vs Manchester United has been one of the most entertaining head-to-heads in recent times. Both clubs have contrasting histories but are now competing on a level playing field at the top of European football.
Since earning promotion to Germany’s top flight, Leipzig have blossomed into one of the most consistent clubs in the Bundesliga.
In fact, Leipzig have finished lower than third just once since their inaugural Bundesliga campaign back in 2016/17 and another Champions League finish beckons this season.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have won 20 English titles, three European Cups and 12 FA Cup triumphs – many of which came before Leipzig were even formed.
The German club’s history goes back to 2009 while Man United, originally established as Newton Heath LYR FC, have been around in some capacity since 1878.
The difference in terms of size, structure and success is inconceivable. But despite the gulf in history and prestige, RB Leipzig and Manchester United are now well-balanced – featuring prominently in Bundesliga news and Premier League stories.
In terms of their performances on the pitch, Leipzig and Man United are heading in different directions but the brand of football has, on the whole, been similar.
The Bundesliga outfit are on an upward trajectory while the Red Devils have fallen from the glorious heights of their trophy-laden past.
The 2020/21 season saw Leipzig and United do battle in the Champions League group stage for the very first time and we saw two contrasting fixtures and performances.
While the Red Devils emerged victorious on matchday two, Leipzig had the last laugh as the German side progressed to the knockout stages with their victory on matchday six.
We look at the RB Leipzig vs Manchester United match history and how each game panned out. It’s time to relive two of the most entertaining UCL group fixtures in recent memory…
RB Leipzig vs Man United Results:
As of February 2022, RB Leipzig and Manchester United have faced each other in just two competitive fixtures – both of which came in the 2020/21 Champions League.
Here, you can see the Man United vs RB Leipzig scores and football fans will be expecting plenty of goals the next time these two teams go up against each other…
- Manchester United 5-0 RB Leipzig – October 28th 2020
- RB Leipzig 3-2 Manchester United – December 8th 2020
Manchester United 5-0 RB Leipzig
Man United sent out a statement of intent on matchday two of the 2020/21 Champions League group stages with a five-star performance at Old Trafford.
Facing RB Leipzig for the first time in a competitive fixture, the Red Devils were rampant in attack as they put five goals past the visitors on a famous night at The Theatre of Dreams.
Mason Greenwood opened the scoring with his first Champions League goal for the club, rifling an accurate strike into the far corner past Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
It was an end-to-end first half, with both teams creating chances but the score remained 1-0 as referee Matej Jug blew his whistle for half-time.
Marcus Rashford came on for the United youngster shortly after the hour mark and notched a 16-minute hat-trick to quickly put the game to bed.
Rashford doubled United’s lead after some rather suspect Leipzig defending, with the Red Devils forward running clear of his marker before slotting calmy past the onrushing keeper.
Just four minutes later, Rashford had his second and United’s third. Arguably the goal of the night, Rashford unleashed a superb effort that flew past Gulacsi in the Leipzig goal.
Anthony Martial won a penalty in the 87th minute and stepped up to convert from the spot – much to the disappointment of the Old Trafford faithful wanting to see a Rashford treble.
However, they would get their wish in stoppage time as Rashford bagged a late hat-trick to put the cherry on the cake as United recorded a dominant success.
The result was made all the more impressive as RB Leipzig were sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga table at the time – though this result brought the visitors down to earth.
That victory meant United were clear at the top of Group H, having won each of their first two group stage matches. However, things were about to take a turn for the worse…
RB Leipzig 3-2 Manchester United
Less than six weeks after their 5-0 victory in the corresponding fixture, Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat at RB Leipzig.
It was the worst possible result for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as the pressure cranked up a couple of notches on his managerial position at Old Trafford.
United crumbled in the opening exchanges, conceding twice inside 13 minutes to leave the Red Devils facing an uphill battle for the rest of the contest.
And Leipzig’s third with 20 minutes remaining ended any hope of a late United revival, much to the dismay of the travelling fans.
The Premier League giants threatened to do the unthinkable after Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba reduced the deficit but Leipzig held on to record a famous triumph.
To make things worse, Angelino – on loan from Manchester City – scored Leipzig’s opening goal before providing the assist for their second.
The Citizens loanee struck with just two minutes on the clock before finding Amadou Haidara at the back post two minutes later to take full advantage of some lax defending.
Leipzig threatened to add to their lead and an offside call spared United’s blushes after just 30 minutes as the Bundesliga side were denied a third before half-time.
Solskjaer’s men rallied in the second half but that all important third goal went to Leipzig and that was game over. United were going out of Europe with a whimper.
A Bruno Fernandes penalty gave them hope and Paul Pogba’s late header ensured a nervy final few minutes for Leipzig but the Bundesliga giants held on.
United dropped into the Europa League while RB Leipzig took their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League – the perfect way to avenge October’s 5-0 defeat.
