Union Berlin suffer four-goal soaking on Bundesliga debut

Union Berlin's Bundesliga debut ended in a 4-0 trouncing by visiting RB Leipzig under new coach Julian Nagelsmann on Sunday.

Leipzig swept into a three-goal lead in heavy rain before half-time through Marcel Halstenberg, Marcel Sabitzer and Timo Werner, while new signing Christopher Nkunku added a fourth in the second half.

Most Union Berlin fans stayed silent for the first 15 minutes of the game in a protest against RB Leipzig.

For the die-hard 'ultras' and other supporters of traditional clubs in Germany, Leipzig represent the commercialisation of the game as an investment vehicle for energy drinks concern Red Bull.

The home fans finally erupted into their choreographed chants on 15 minutes but had little to cheer about as Leipzig took command as the skies opened up in the first half at the Alte Foersterei ground.

Halstenberg curled the ball into the net in the 16th minute, Sabitzer made it two in the 31st and Werner found the roof of the net for the third in the 41st.

Leipzig also had a goal by Lukas Klostermann ruled out following a video review which showed the ball had hit the arm of Yussuf Poulsen beforehand.

The rain held off after the interval but another goal followed when Nkunku scored from close range in the 69th minute shortly after replacing Werner.

It was the perfect start for Leipzig, third in the Bundesliga last season, in Nagelsmann's league debut at the club after moving from Hoffenheim, but a real dampener for promoted Union, who next week visit Augsburg.

In Frankfurt, a first-minute goal by Martin Hinteregger was enough to give Eintracht Frankfurt a 1-0 victory over Hoffenheim.

Hinteregger volleyed in after 36 seconds from Filip Kostic's cross after Hoffenheim were caught napping at a short-taken corner.

Hoffenheim's Dennis Geiger had a goal ruled out four minutes before half-time following a video review showing a team-mate in an offside position in the keeper's line of vision.

But the visitors, beginning the season with Dutschman Alfred Schreuder succeeding Nagelsmann on the coaching bench, rarely threatened.

The best chance fell late on to substitute Ishak Belfodil, but he failed to connect properly with a header while unmarked in front of goal and the ball went wide off his shoulder.