RB Leipzig will host Union Berlin at the Red Bull Arena on Sunday, looking to end their losing streak and get back to winning ways.
RB Leipzig, who face Union Berlin on Sunday, are currently fifth in the Bundesliga table, and they will look to secure Champions League qualification. They cannot afford to keep dropping points if they want to finish high up the standings.
RB Leipzig are on a three-match losing streak, and it remains to be seen whether they can bounce back strongly. The home fans will be expecting a reaction from the players when they take on Union Berlin.
Meanwhile, Union Berlin are 15th in the league table, and they will look to secure their safety in the Bundesliga this season. They will need to grind out positive results to steer clear of the bottom three.
The away side have done reasonably well in their recent matches, and it remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
RB Leipzig
Amadou Haidara is away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Mohamed Simakan is suspended after picking up five yellow cards. Apart from that, the home team have a fully-fit squad to choose from.
RB Leipzig will shape up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Peter Gulacsi in goal. Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum will start as the full-backs. They will look to protect the central defenders and help out in the attack. Willi Orban will start at the heart of the defence alongside Lukas Klostermann.
Christoph Baumgartner and Xavi Simons will start in the wide areas, and they will look to add goals and creativity to the side.
In the middle of the park, Nicolas Seiwald will start alongside Xaver Schlager. The two players will look to keep things compact to defensively and break up the opposition attacks. Lois Openda will lead the line for RB Leipzig against Union Berlin, with Yussuf Poulsen lining up alongside him.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Henrichs, Orban, Klostermann, Raum; Baumgartner, Seiwald, Schlager, Simons; Openda, Poulsen
Union Berlin
The away side do not have any major injury issues heading into this contest, and they are likely to shape up in a 3-5-1-1 formation.
Frederik Ronnow will start in gold for them. In the back three, Danilho Doekhi will start alongside Diogo Leite and Kevin Vogt. Josip Juranovic and Robin Gosens will start as the wing backs and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch.
Captain Rani Khedira will start in the defensive midfield role, and he will look to break up opposition attacks and win the ball for his side. Janik Haberer and Andras Schafer will also start in central midfield unit. They will look to add creativity and control to the side.
Benedict Hollerbach will start as the central attacking midfielder here, and he will look to link the midfield with the attack. Kevin Volland will lead the line for the away side.
Probable Lineup (3-5-1-1): Ronnow; Doekhi, Leite, Vogt; Juranovic, Haberer, Khedira, Schafer, Gosens; Hollerbach; Volland
Key Stats
- RB Leipzig have lost their last three matches in the Bundesliga.
- There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Union Berlin‘s last four games in the Bundesliga.
- 18 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between RB Leipzig and Union Berlin. Union Berlin have won four of the last six meetings against RB Leipzig.
- Union Berlin are unbeaten in four of the last six league matches.
- RB Leipzig are on a four-match winless run in the Bundesliga.
Player to Watch
Xavi Simons
The 20-year-old Dutch international has been an impressive form this season, and he has seven goals and nine assists across all competitions. He will look to help open up the opposition defence with his creativity, vision and execution in the final third. The Dutchman will look to get on the score sheet as well. He is our key player to watch out for.
Prediction
RB Leipzig 2-1 Union Berlin
Although the home side are in disappointing form right now, they will be desperate to bounce back strongly. They have most of their key players fit and ready for this game, and the home fans will be expecting an improved performance from the players.
The visitors are likely to put up a fight here and make things difficult for the hosts. But RB Leipzig have enough quality in their attack to come out on top in the end against Union Berlin. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Marco Rose and his charges.