Table toppers Bayer Leverkusen will look to keep their unbeaten streak intact when they hit the road to square up against RB Leipzig.
RB Leipzig will look to return to winning ways when they host Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen after failing to clinch a win in their last two league outings. The home team will strengthen their position in the top four, while the visitors will look to keep their unbeaten streak alive and ensure they do not lose out on the top spot to Bayern Munich.
Leipzig are currently fourth in the Bundesliga with 33 points in 17 matches. They have won ten matches, drawn three and lost four so far. While Marco Rose’s men have not been at their best, it is still a decent first half, and they will hope for better things in the second half of the season.
The home team have not been in the best of forms of late. After winning three league games in a row, they have not been able to do so in their last two outings. They are heading into this game against the league leaders on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite dominating the proceedings, Leipzig failed to get the desired result and will hope to put out a better show against Alonso’s men.
Bayer Leverkusen are currently at the top of the Bundesliga, and they have not suffered a single defeat since the start of the season. They have accumulated 45 points out of their 17 matches, thanks to 14 wins and three draws. While it has been an incredible start, they can afford a slip-up now as Bayer Munich are closing in. Die Roten are four points behind but have a game in hand.
The visitors have been on fire of late; they have won their last three league games and will look to make it four wins in a row. Alonso’s team are heading into this fixture on the back of a 1-0 win over Augsburg.
Despite dominating throughout the 90 minutes, Leverkusen could only claim all three points thanks to a late winner by Exequiel Palacios. And, they will be hoping for a better outing this time out. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
RB Leipzig
Willi Orban is out injured for the home team, while Amadou Haidara is on international duty. Dani Olmo has already returned from an injury, and Eljif Elmas made his debut as a substitute last time out. The duo is expected to start in this fixture.
Marco Rose will stick to his tried and tested 4-2-2-2 formation, where Janis Blaswich will be in goal. Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum will feature as the two full-backs. They will look to help out Mohamed Simakan and Castello Lukeba, who will start in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Dani Olmo and Xavi Simons will start out wide. The duo will have the freedom to both drift wide as well as drift in behind the two forwards. They will look to create chances for their teammates as well as for themselves.
Xaver Schlager and Kevin Kampl will feature in a more central role, and the duo will look to control the tempo of the game. As far as the two forwards are concerned, Lois Openda will start alongside Yussuf Poulsen.
Probable Lineup (4-2-2-2): Blaswich; Henrichs, Simakan, Lukeba, Raum; Olmo, Schlager, Kampl, Simons; Openda, Poulsen
Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso’s team will be without the services of Victor Boniface and Arthur. Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou and Amine Adli are also unavailable, as they are currently on international duty.
Florian Wirtz returned to action last time out with an appearance off the bench, and he is expected to feature in the starting XI this time out. Alonso will stick to the 3-4-2-1 formation, where Lukas Hradecky will continue in goal. Edmond Tapsoba will return to the backline, and he will feature alongside Josip Stanisic and Piero Hincapie.
Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo will continue as the wing-backs. The duo has been doing wonders for the Bundesliga leaders, creating a truckload of chances and even contributing towards numerous goals.
Exequiel Palacios will start alongside Granit Xhaka in the centre of the park. The duo will look to control the tempo and keep things tight in the middle of the park. Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann will feature just in behind the striker as the attacking midfielders. They will look to create chances for their number nine Patrik Schick.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Stanisic, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz; Schick
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have been unbeaten so far in the 2023/24 season in all competitions.
- RB Leipzig have won seven out of the last 15 encounters against the visitors who only have four wins to their name.
- Bayer Leverkusen have won their last two league matches against the home team.
- The home team have been unbeaten in their last five league games against the table-toppers of the Bundesliga.
- Bayer Leverkusen’s 45 points in their first 17 matches is the best start to a league campaign in their history.
Player to Watch
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz’s return is a huge boost for Bayer Leverkusen. The 20-year-old featured as a substitute last time out, and he is all set to feature in the starting XI against RB Leipzig. The German international has been one of the most important players for Xabi Alonso’s team as they push for the league title.
In his 24 outings this season, the attacking midfielder has 20 goal contributions. He has found the back of the net on eight occasions and has bagged 12 assists. Alonso will expect Wirtz to bring his A-game to the table and end up being the difference between the two teams.
Prediction
RB Leipzig 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
RB Leipzig have a lot of quality in their ranks, and they will surely give it their all to claim all three points at home against the league leaders. But, given the kind of form Bayer Leverkusen are in, it won’t be easy to get past them.
Die Werkself have not even lost once this season and will try their best to keep that streak intact. With Florian Wirtz back, Xabi Alonso’s men will be confident of their chances. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the visitors.
