Highlights: SV Wehen Wiesbaden - RB Leipzig | DFB-POKAL 2023/2024

Home of Zweite Bundesliga newcomers Wien Wiesbaden is where the trophy defence starts for RB Leipzig. Starting two is fit-again Leipzig skipper Peter Gulacsi. Missing for a week shy of a whole year for Marco Woerzer's men. The back-to-back cup winners with some six-team changes for this cup tie tonight. Here is Kevin Kampel, on to find Christopher Lenz for Leipzig. The cross for Poulsen, it breaks towards Forsberg! Who finds the top corner with a brilliant finish. Well Lenz put in a really dangerous ball, the header by Poulsen turned away but Forsberg would not be kept out. The holders lead inside of seven first half minutes. Leipzig reaching four at the last five finals. Mistake here by Marcus Matthyssen and the door opens for Szczesko in behind. It's Szczesko saved, Poulsen saved, Fabio Carvalho over the bar. Well three openings here for the price of one. Two saves and the last was too high. Six wins in seven games played across all competitions so far for Leipzig this season. Here is Fabio Carvalho, Matthyssen's mistake and Szczesko there to show no mercy. Well Benjamin Szczesko now on to four goals for the club across all competitions. But here Marcus Matthyssen, his mistake was punished. Defender across his own goal, a cardinal sin and Leipzig lead by two. After 18 minutes the start Marcus Kowczynski must have dreaded. Marcus Matthyssen for Martin Anger. A chase here, Ivan Pratain. Pratain's in and Wien Wiesbaden back in the cup tie. Life in the underdogs yet. On the clock 41 minutes and Wien Wiesbaden here are back in business. Ivan Pratain who scores a goal every two games for the club on average with a terrific finish. What a time to score. Game on. Halftime some fresh concern on the faces of Mario Gomez and Max Eberl in the Leipzig hierarchy. Since halftime a real hunger about Wien Wiesbaden. Here's Lenz and Kevin Kampel all the giveaway here. Ivan Pratain, oh good save Gulacsi. At the near post here down to make for Leipzig a really key save at a key point in the match. The cup tie here almost level. A triple Leipzig switch. Luis Openda, Zaber, Schlager and Xavi all sent on here to finish this one off. Xavi, Openda, here's Emil Forsberg blocked. It comes here for Szczesko who bags his double with a terrific hit. And now they have clear daylight. Has Szczesko sealed the cup tie here to play 20 minutes. Now a two goal margin. Szczesko so precise. Wien Wiesbaden chase the cup tie still. In goes that corner. And Pratain's had it turned away. Pratain again. At the double. Ivan Pratain. You can see why he scores so many goals for Wien Wiesbaden. All night long a proper menace. Schlager on here for Xavi. Heads Szczesko on the move. It's Xavi. Szczesko turns, hits the crossbar. Szczesko so close there to a first hat-trick in Leipzig colours. Not to be. Can the Zweite Bundesliga team save this one? The long and high ball towards Pratain. It's scuffed away. Here's Julius Kader with a shot. And Gulacsi back in goal for Leipzig here. Shows his worth with a wonderful save with two minutes to play. A proper test. The cup holders have passed. But my word Wien Wiesbaden pushed them close. This was no gentle return. No easing back in for Gulacsi. The keeper was key in Leipzig's progress. By the odd goal in five in a cup thriller.