Red Bull sniffed the commercial potential from the city yet that didn't stop them exploring takeover opportunities at St Pauli, Munich and Fortuna Dusseldorf, all of which were rebuffed with fan anger.

Returning to Plan A, Red Bull gained their foothold by purchasing the licence of fifth-tier club SSV Markranstadt, a village team some 10 miles west of Leipzig, in Unsurprisingly, everything about the club was rebranded with the core of Markranstadt players gradually phased out and replaced by new signings.

With investment of at least million euros pledged by Red Bull over the course of the club's first decade, the ambition was to reach the Bundesliga within eight years.

Such a stunning rise was never likely to go unnoticed in a country like Germany, where fans place great emphasis on history, tradition and fan culture.

Even the name of this upstart club stuck in the craw. Unlike in Austria and the United States, the use of corporation names in football teams is prohibited in Germany.

Borussia Dortmund fans hold up a series of banners in protest against the Red Bull-owned club. This was circumvented by making the official name 'RasenBallsport' - which literally means 'lawn ball sports' - Leipzig as opposed to Red Bull.

Liga Third tier - 2nd. Bundesliga Second tier - 5th. And they deliberately flouted German football's unique 'plus-one' ownership rules designed to keep power in the hands of supporters by issuing a limited number of shares, selling 49 per cent of them to Red Bull and then making the remainder prohibitively expensive.

Even now they have just 17 members with voting rights within the club and most of them have direct links to the Red Bull company. Their rapid success and means of achieving it sparked a backlash from their rivals.

Opposition fans have marched in protest and boycotted games, while some club's constitutions were amended to prohibit arranging friendlies against them.

But as time has progressed and Leipzig have become established as a top-flight club, the attitudes of some have softened. Firstly, it's clear that the club is a positive thing for the city of Leipzig with the people getting behind them and average crowds around the 40,mark.

Artificial construct or not, their success has restored Leipzig to the football map in Germany and Europe. Secondly, Leipzig haven't spent the crazy sums on players that many expected.

Sheff Utd. Crystal Palace. What fixture pile up? And still! Season at a glance Live tables Fixtures Scores. More tables. More fixtures. More scores.

Jose Mourinho digs into his old book of mind-games with swipe at his former club as he insists it's 'NOT Under-fire Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman 'is already facing a dressing-room revolt over his tactics, with the Results have Brendan Rodgers claims he measures himself more on improving players than winning trophies with Leicester Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin apologises after he posted 'abhorrent' Instagram video of himself groping a Arsenal and Wolves among clubs eyeing move for Maxi Gomez with cash-strapped Valencia ready to sell striker It was beaten twice by Shakhtar.

Struggling in attack, Madrid has also had problems in defense, conceding nine goals in five group games, its worst defensive record up to this point in the competition.

A hamstring injury has sidelined defensive leader Sergio Ramos for the last two weeks. Madrid has underperformed for a squad of its caliber in the Spanish league as well.

It had gone three rounds without a win until it eked out a victory at Sevilla last Saturday thanks to a goalkeeping blunder. Gladbach can go through with a draw.

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Istanbul Basaksehir, 3 p. Manchester United, 3 p. Wednesday, Dec. Ajax vs. Atalanta, p.

Midtjylland vs. Liverpool, p. Bayern Munich vs. Lokomotiv Moscow, 3 p. Red Bull Salzburg vs. Atletico Madrid, 3 p.

Real Madrid vs. Borussia Monchengladbach, 3 p. Inter Milan vs. See the 32 contenders' key signings and departures over the summer.

The four seeding pots have been confirmed for the group stage draw. When was the draw? Who was involved?

Who won UEFA awards? Two of last season's surprise packages and Inter are among the eight teams. The 32 teams have been confirmed.

When is the group stage? How will qualifying work? Where is the final? Goals, thrills, late comebacks and roller-coaster epics — this season has had it all.

We pick an XI based on the highest-scoring players in this season's Fantasy game. See who took the official award after every knockout stage match this season.

Covering these finals live has brought new insights, says Simon Hart. Paris are into their debut final following a resounding win against Leipzig.

Who will prevail in the first Champions League semi-final in Lisbon.

Manchester United, led by forward Bruno Fernandes, faces Red Bull Leipzig in a UEFA Champions League group stage match at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, on Tuesday, December 8, (12/8/20). Advertisement RB Leipzig are set to play hosts to Manchester United in a crucial encounter on Tuesday at the Red Bull Arena in their next UEFA Champions League group stage game. RB Leipzig come. LEP vs MUN UEFA Champions League Captain, Vice-captain, Fantasy Playing Tips And Predicted XIs For Today’s RB Leipzig vs Manchester United Match at Red Bull Arena AM IST December 9. Manchester United and Red Bull Leipzig are set to meet on Tuesday in what is the biggest game for each team so far in the UEFA Champions League. Both clubs, along with Paris Saint Germain, are in. Jamie Carragher mocks Gary Neville after Manchester United's Champions League exit United were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday night after a defeat by RB Leipzig in the Red Bull.

22 hours ago · Manchester United, led by forward Bruno Fernandes, faces Red Bull Leipzig in a UEFA Champions League group stage match at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, on Tuesday, December 8, (12/8/20). 8/15/ · To pinch the slogan of their owners Red Bull, the most hated club in Germany - RasenBallsport Leipzig - have got their wings and flown into the semi-finals of the Champions League. 8/17/ · Red Bull! Champions League semi-finalists Leipzig are despised in Germany for being a 'marketing' project with the Bundesliga club now on the cusp of reaching European glory. Madrid has underperformed for a squad Argentinien Nationalmannschaft its caliber in the Spanish league as well. Our journalism needs your support now. Red Bull Salzburg. Ethan Ampadu.