RB Leipzig beat Hoffenheim with Olmo double, VAR assist

Third-placed RB Leipzig scored two quickfire goals through Dani Olmo immediately after Hoffenheim had a penalty award overturned by VAR in a remarkable opening 12 minutes on the way to a 2-0 win on the road in the Bundesliga on Friday.

The victory gave Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann a happy first return to the club where he began his coaching career as a 28-year-old. His side now have 62 points from 31 games, one behind Borussia Dortmund and eight off Bayern Munich who both play on Saturday.

The result also ensured an unhappy start for Hoffenheim's unorthodox five-man coaching team who replaced Alfred Schreuder after his sacking on Tuesday. The hosts remain seventh on 43 points as they chase a Europa League qualifying spot.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

- Insider Notebook: Barca stun Madrid with wonderkid move  

After a bright start, seventh-placed Hoffenheim were awarded a penalty when Munas Dabbur was upended by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in the sixth minute.

The ball was on the spot and Dabbur was waiting to take the spot kick when it was revoked for handball after a VAR review which took nearly two minutes.

Getty Images

---

Leipzig then delivered two knockout blows when Olmo finished off a counter-attack by side-footing the visitors ahead in the ninth minute and the Spaniard struck again two minutes later from a similar position.

Dabbur headed against the bar and Gulacsi made a superb block from Christoph Baumgartner as valiant Hoffenheim kept pushing forward, while Leipzig forward Timo Werner was put clean through but side-footed over just before half-time.

Olmo missed the chance of a hat trick when he shot wide in the 65th minute and Christopher Nkunku rattled the post as Leipzig missed a flurry of chances in the second half.