Werner scores on return but Leipzig held

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Timo Werner of RB Leipzig is challenged by Ellyes Skhiri of 1.FC Koeln during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and 1. FC Köln at Red Bull Arena on August 13, 2022 in Leipzig, Germany. 



Germany striker Timo Werner has scored on his return to the Bundesliga, but his RB Leipzig team were held to a second draw of the season.

Reduced to ten men they conceded an own goal enabling Cologne to share the points on Saturday.

Werner, aided by a goalkeeper error, opened the scoring 37 minutes into his second stint at Leipzig having rejoined from Premier League Chelsea this week.

Cologne first levelled through Florian Dietz and the game appeared to have turned in their favour when Dominik Szoboszlai saw red on the stroke of half-time.

But they needed a helping hand through Josko Gvardiol bundling a corner into his own net after Christopher Nkunku grabbed what looked like the winner after the break.

Werner scored 91 Bundesliga goals, 78 of them for Leipzig, before moving to England and his 92nd came courtesy of Cologne keeper Marvin Schwabe, who fumbled his speculative long-range effort into the net.

"Very emotional, it was something special for me to come back here after two years," said Werner, who moved for an initial EUR20 million ($A29 million).

He had a modest 67 minutes, not touching the ball in the opposing box according to Sky stats, but said apart from the result he was broadly happy with his performance while acknowledging "luck" with his goal.

"When you play so long a man down 2-2 is acceptable, but it's not enough for the targets we have," Werner added.

Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen started poorly as Fredrik Jensen put visiting Augsburg in front. Charles Aranguiz levelled before the break and a string of fine saves from Rafal Gikiewicz kept Augsburg in it during the second period.

Andre Hahn then drilled a late winner against the run of play to give Augsburg a first-ever Bundesliga victory over Leverkusen.

Second division champions Schalke claimed their first point back in the Bundesliga with Marius Bulter's injury-time penalty rescuing a 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach as top-flight football returned to Gelsenkirchen.

Hertha Berlin and Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt took their first points in a 1-1 draw while Werder Bremen rescued an injury-time 2-2 draw at home to VfB Stuttgart.

Hoffenheim overcame an early deficit to beat Bochum 3-2 despite a missed penalty.

Dortmund top the table having won 3-1 at Freiburg on Friday while champions Bayern Munich conclude the weekend on Sunday at home to Wolfsburg after Mainz v Union Berlin.


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