For the Lovers
Most successful newcomer in Bundesliga history: RBL's runners-up finish in 2017 eclipsed the "all-time record" of 1. FC Kaiserslautern, who finished 7th in their debut Bundesliga season in 1963/64. Leipzig went one better: second place and Champions League football in their very first year.
Leipzig loves Berlin: Look away, Hertha fans, but the football capital of eastern and central Germany is Leipzig, not Berlin. In Bundesliga history (to December 2019), the Red Bulls have never lost at Hertha BSC's Olympiastadion.
More bad news for Hertha fans: Hertha's reserves also struggle against Leipzig. In lower-league encounters, RBL dominated Berlin's second team repeatedly on their way up through the divisions.
The biggest Bundesliga win: The Bulls celebrated a goal fest against FSV Mainz 05 on November 2, 2019 — an 8-0 demolition that sent shockwaves through the Bundesliga.
"Bulls" as cup giant-killers: July 29, 2011 — the Red Bull Arena hosted RBL's DFB-Pokal debut. The then fourth-division side beat Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg 3-2 in a sensational first-round upset.
Never again Oberliga! The RBL newcomers took this German amateur football evergreen literally and shot their way out of the fifth tier at the first attempt — with 89 goals in 30 matches and immediate promotion.
RB Leipzig's greatest success came as Bundesliga newcomers in 2016/17: under coach Ralph Hasenhüttl, the team stormed to runners-up spot — the best debut season by any promoted club in Bundesliga history.
DFB-Pokal final: Reaching the 2019 final represented the young club's best cup run at the time. Leipzig lost 0-3 to Bayern München at the Olympiastadion in Berlin — but the journey itself was a statement.
Sachsenpokal final: Before that, Leipzig reached the Sachsenpokal final in 2011 and 2013 — each time as a Regionalliga side (1-0 and 0-2 against Chemnitzer FC). Modest trophies, but milestones on the road to the top.