Timo Werner returns with a goal but RB off the pace

A little bit of luck is an essential part of every striker's career and Timo Werner's return to RB Leipzig was sprinkled with the type of fortune that deserted him at Chelsea.

The German forward roared with delight when a potshot from 25-yards slipped through goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe's hands and rippled the back of the net to ensure a scoring return to the Red Bull Arena.

Having been the leading man for Leipzig during his first spell, scoring 95 times in 156 appearances across all competitions, Werner was plagued by insecurity and few opportunities in front of goal during his time in the Premier League.

And, the 26-year-old admitted feeling moved on his return to playing in eastern Germany, telling Sky: "It was very emotional, it was something special for me to come back here after two years. 70 percent of the team still knows me, so it wasn't so hard to get back in."

Overall, it was a lowkey return for the German forward though, littered with misplaced passes and without a single touch in Cologne's box.

Can Werner help RB Leipzig topple Bayern?

At Werner's unveiling on Tuesday, technical director Christopher Vivell sung the striker's praises, saying: "He'll take on a leading role here. He has a lot of experience on the international stage and knows RB Leipzig very well.

"We have a brilliant level of variety and depth in our attack and a lot of quality going forward."

The 26-year-old — who received the loudest cheer of any player when the lineup was read out ahead of the match — looked confident but lacked match fitness as poor first touches and simple passes often found a Cologne player instead of his own teammate.

When Werner was afforded space in the middle of the park, his strike from 25 yards and Schwäbe's mistake allowed him a dream return goal — and a standing ovation when he substituted midway through the second half.

Off the pace

Head coach Domenico Tedesco admitted after the match that Leipzig were unaware of Werner's condition, explaining: "We didn't really know what the status of him was, even though he did the whole preseason at Chelsea.

"We had very little data on him, so a game like this is very helpful to see where he is at the moment."

And, CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is confident Werner has much still to show, adding: "He is certainly not at 100%, nobody expected that. But more is possible."

However, the draw against Cologne offered few answers about whether Werner's homecoming can add enough to Leipzig's team to make them a true threat to Bayern Munich's bid for an eleventh consecutive Bundesliga title.

The hosts played the second half with just 10 men, after Dominik Szoboszlai was dubiously shown a red card at the end of the first 45 for raising his elbow towards Kainz's face.

Christoper Nkunku's brilliant effort, scored after escaping three defenders inside the box, gave Leipzig hope of an unlikely victory. But their defensive frailties were highlighted by the two poor goals they conceded.

Still, Leipzig's resistance to hold on for the draw impressed Tedesco who said after the game: "There were a few fateful blows for us. We had to take a lot on the chin today. But I think many teams would have lost the game today."

And, Werner echoed his head coaches thoughts but is expectant of better outcomes, adding: "When you play so long a man down 2-2 is acceptable but it is not enough for the target we have."

Partnership with Nkunku on the cards?

Werner and Nkunku's initial one-year spell together up front for Leipzig during the 2019-2020 season was dominated by former — whose 28 league goals dwarfed his forward partner's paltry five strikes.

Last season the French striker finally showcased that he possessed not only raw speed but also the talent to turn defenders inside out, regularly leaving them on the deck with fancy footwork and tidy pirouettes.

Nkunku's dancing feet in front of goal last year, which helped him score 35 times in 58 appearances, saw him named as the Bundesliga player of the season as he came into his own.

Returning together to the starting line-up for the first time in two years, the pair struggled to find much of a rhythm — with one opportunity missed when Werner's weak header failed to set Nkunku free on a counterattack.

Szoboszlai's red card meant Nkunku was forced to drop into the midfield for the second half and the pair seldom linked up, but the former Paris Saint Germain forward's prowess in front of goal was not dimmed.

Collecting a brilliant pass from Olmo, Nkunku raced into the box and — having placed his standing foot towards the back post — powered the ball into the far corner.

If both Werner and Nkunku can replicate their best individual seasons with Leipzig as an attacking force there will be much expectation and hope that the front two can propel the team towards a league challenge, past the group stages of the Champions League and perhaps beyond.

It remains to be seen though whether the two strikers who can form a cohesive partnership or if their strengths are too similar to gel together. Both are quick but can Nkunku read his teammate's runs? And what position is Werner most comfortable in now?

With the World Cup just 99 days away, Werner will need to rediscover the confidence and form in front of goal that shone through in his first spell at Leipzig. Especially as Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi is battling to take his fellow striker's place in the starting XI.

Edited by: Matt Pearson