Soccer-Leipzig slip up in Bundesliga start with 1-1 draw at Stuttgart

RB Leipzig dropped points at the start of their Bundesliga season, drawing 1-1 at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday despite taking the lead and missing a bagful of chances in the second half. Leipzig, who last week lost 5-3 to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup, got off to a flying start with 2021/22 Bundesliga player of the season Christopher Nkunku slotting home to give them the lead in the eighth minute.

RB Leipzig dropped points at the start of their Bundesliga season, drawing 1-1 at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday despite taking the lead and missing a bagful of chances in the second half.

Leipzig, who last week lost 5-3 to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup, got off to a flying start with 2021/22 Bundesliga player of the season Christopher Nkunku slotting home to give them the lead in the eighth minute. They gradually eased off and Stuttgart found space to attack, with Naouirou Ahamada's strike from the edge of the box levelling the scores in the 31st minute with the France youth international's first career goal.

Leipzig, who finished fourth last season and won the German Cup, pushed forward after the break but were left wondering how they failed to score in a one-sided second half. Stuttgart keeper Florian Mueller denied them repeatedly, stopping an Nkunku shot from point-blank range in the 66th minute and sensationally palming a close-range Willi Orban effort wide five minutes later.

Dani Olmo also could not beat Mueller in the 73rd as Leipzig piled up a total of 27 efforts on goal to Stuttgart's 11. Promoted Schalke 04 did not have the Bundesliga return they had envisaged when Dominick Drexler was sent off for a reckless foul after 35 minutes in their 3-1 loss at Cologne.

Cologne were without top striker Anthony Modeste who has verbally agreed to join Borussia Dortmund. Champions Bayern Munich kicked off the season on Friday with a sensational 6-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt.

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