RB Leipzig will welcome VfB Stuttgart in the early Bundesliga clash on Friday night.
RB Leipzig will welcome VfB Stuttgart to the Red Bull Arena for their first home game of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season knowing full well that nothing less than three points will do on the night.
The DFL Super Cup holders were swiftly brought back to earth on opening day, thanks to a plucky Bayer Leverkusen side that prevailed 3-2 on the night. Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart got off to a scintillating start and go into game week two as Bundesliga leaders for the first time since the opening day of the 2021/22 season.
It certainly represents a break from tradition, with both sides expected to compete at the opposite ends of the table this season. The onus will be on Leipzig to take the game to their opponents, leaving themselves open to be counter-attacked especially in the centre.
Leipzig will be aware that they cannot afford to drop more points if they are serious about mounting a title charge this season. While they might have lost a few star players in the summer, they are a better side on paper than Stuittgart and go into the game as favourites. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might implement.
Team News & Tactics
RB Leipzig
Fokus auf den Heimspiel-Auftakt 🔜 #RBLVfB pic.twitter.com/nMzpJsvcwM
— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) August 22, 2023
Keen to get back to winning ways, RB Leipzig will take to the field without Amadou Haidara, who is suffering from a muscle injury and El Chadaille Bitshiabu who is a long-term absentee thanks to a knee injury. Christoph Baumgartner is back in contention after a thigh issue but is unlikely to be risked from the start.
Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and star striker Benjamin Sesko are both doubtful for the game and are unlikely to be risked. While they could be selected for a spot on the bench, it will come as a surprise should either player start.
Despite the setback at Bayer Leverkusen, Marco Rose is unlikely to deviate from the fluid 4-4-2 system that transforms into a 4-2-2-2 or a 4-2-4 as needed. Janis Blaswich should deputise in goal behind a back four of David Raum, Willi Orban, Mohamed Simakan and Benjamin Henrichs.
The duo of Xaver Schlager and Kevin Kampl will be entrusted to keep the peace in the middle of the park, allowing Dani Olmo and Xavi Simons to push forward. The duo will aim to link up with Timo Werner and Luis Openda, throwing numbers upfield to apply pressure on the Stuttgart pressure.
The left flank will be particularly key as Olmo and Werner have both built up a solid rapport. It won’t come as a surprise should the German drop deeper, opening up space for the Spaniard to play further upfield. Emil Forsberg and Fabio Carvalho are likely to settle for a spot off the bench alongside Sesko should he be deemed fit.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Blaswich; Raum, Orban, Simakan, Henrichs; Olmo, Schlager, Kampl, Simons; Werner, Openda
VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart trumped Vfl Bochum 5-0 on opening day and will be keen to see momentum help them overcome what will be a far superior opponent in Leipzig. Having lost skipper Wataru Endo last week, the visitors are looking at a new era with new heroes who can come to the fore.
The away side will be without the injured trio of Deniz Undav, Josha Vagnoman and Nikolas Nartey while Laurin Ulrich is recovering from tonsilitis. Thomas Kastanaras is also unavailable as he continues to recover from a broken foot. Fabian Bredlow, meanwhile, is a doubt for the game.
Done! ☑️#VfB | #Training pic.twitter.com/hMf5dJqNVr
— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) August 23, 2023
Sebastian Hoeness is likely to go in with a defensive layout that will aim to limit Leipzig’s fluid frontline. Alexander Nubel should be the last line of defence behind a flat back four of Hiroki Ito, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Waldemar Anton and Pascal Stenzel.
The trio of Genki Haraguchi, Atakan Karazor and Enzo Millot will be tasked with providing the muscle and seizing the control in central midfield. The trio could use the weight of numbers to overcome their Leipzig compatriots, leaving the home side open to a counter.
Chris Fuhrich and Silas Katompa Mvumpa should provide the width, with Serhou Guirassy leading the line. The latter two scored braces last weekend and will be keen to keep that run going.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Nubel; Ito, Zagadou, Anton, Stenzel; Fuhrich, Haraguchi, Karazor, Millot, Mvumpa; Guirassy
Key Stats
- RB Leipzig are unbeaten in their last ten Bundesliga games against VfB Stuttgart. The home side have won eight of these matches, drawing the remaining two.
- Leipzig have faced no other side in the Bundesliga without losing while Stuttgart have faced no other side in the top flight so often without ever winning.
- All the five home games in Leipzig have been decided in Leipzig’s favour with the aggregate score of 11-1.
- A loss on the night will see Leipzig lose their opening two games in a Bundesliga campaign for the first time in history.
- A win on the night will see Stuttgart win their opening two games of a Bundesliga campaign for the first time since the 1996/97 campaign.
Player to Watch
Dani Olmo
The Spanish international is Leipzig’s creative tour de force and now has the space to thrive following Christopher Nkunku’s departure to Chelsea. Olmo began the season strongly, netting a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the DFL Super Cup.
He also found the back of the net against Bayer Leverkusen and is in a purple patch of form going into the weekend. As long as the 25-year-old is given the freedom of the pitch, it could prove to be a long night for Stuttgart. However, taking him out will more or less make life easier for the Stuttgart defence.
Prediction
RB Leipzig 3-1 VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart will be brimming with confidence going into the game but will leave themselves open at the back should they push forward with abandon. It is imperative that they keep things tight in the middle of the pitch to isolate the Leipzig attackers.
The home side despite their recent reveal are a force to be reckoned with and their quality should show. Stuttgart will have moments of their own, but Leipzig are expected to come away with a victory by two goals.
