Bayer Leverkusen will aim to continue their unbeaten run against RB Leipzig this weekend.
Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will host RB Leipzig at the BayArena for their first home fixture of the 2024-25 Bundesliga campaign on Saturday afternoon. This match sees two of Germany’s top clubs, both of whom will be competing in the newly expanded UEFA Champions League, facing off for the first time since January when Leverkusen secured a 3-2 away victory.
Leverkusen enter this fixture off the back of a historic season where they claimed the Bundesliga title and the German Cup, narrowly missing out on a treble after their Europa League final defeat. The momentum has carried over into the new season, with Leverkusen winning all three of their opening matches across all competitions.
Leverkusen’s season began with a penalty-shootout victory over Stuttgart in the DFB-Supercup, followed by a thrilling 3-2 away win against Borussia Monchengladbach in their Bundesliga opener. The team, known for their knack for scoring late goals, added another in their first league match when Florian Wirtz tapped in a rebound after missing a 101st-minute penalty.
The club’s latest victory came in the DFB-Pokal, where they narrowly defeated fourth-tier Carl Zeiss Jena 1-0, thanks to a Jonas Hofmann goal. Despite the win, head coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged that the team needed to improve in certain areas, especially after a challenging match against lower-league opposition.
Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak in domestic competitions now stands at an impressive 43 games, a testament to their consistency and strength. With three consecutive Bundesliga victories over Leipzig in their recent meetings, Leverkusen will be confident of securing another positive result on Saturday.
RB Leipzig, meanwhile, has also started their season positively. After coming from behind to defeat Rot-Weiss Essen 4-1 in the DFB-Pokal first round, they followed up with a narrow 1-0 victory over VfL Bochum in their Bundesliga opener. Summer signing Antonio Nusa scored his second goal in as many matches, proving to be a key addition to Marco Rose’s squad.
Leipzig’s victory over Bochum was not without drama, as captain Willi Orban was sent off late in the game for a last-man tackle. Despite this, Leipzig held on to secure all three points. However, Rose admitted that his side still has room for improvement and that they need to step up in the coming weeks.
Leipzig is now unbeaten in their last 12 Bundesliga matches, a run that includes eight wins and four draws, marking their joint-longest unbeaten streak under Rose. However, they face a significant challenge in Leverkusen, who boast an even longer undefeated run in the league.
One area of concern for Leipzig is their defensive record on the road. Despite scoring in almost every away league game last season, they have conceded in each of their last 14 Bundesliga matches away from home—a club record they would rather not extend.
Moreover, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 20 away games across all competitions, which could make it difficult to contain Leverkusen’s potent attack. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen will continue to manage without midfielder Exequiel Palacios, who is still recovering from a knee injury. Additionally, defender Odilon Kossounou has moved to Atalanta BC on loan with an option to buy, leaving a gap in the defensive lineup.
Despite rumours of a potential transfer, Jonathan Tah is likely to retain his position at the centre of a three-man defence alongside Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie. The versatile Nordi Mukiele, who has joined on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, could also make his debut, potentially providing additional defensive options.
Leverkusen’s lineup is expected to feature several key players who were rested in their midweek DFB-Pokal match. Lukas Hradecky will return between the posts, with Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo set to take up the wing-back positions.
In central midfield, Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich are expected to partner up, providing both defensive cover and support in attack. Florian Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann will likely operate as the attacking midfield duo, supporting the lone striker, Victor Boniface.
Leverkusen are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Lukas Hrádecký will start in goal, providing experience and leadership at the back. The three-man defence will consist of Edmond Tapsoba on the right, Jonathan Tah in the centre, and Piero Hincapié on the left, forming a solid defensive unit.
In the wing-back positions, Jeremie Frimpong will play on the right, offering pace and attacking support, while Alejandro Grimaldo will take up the left side, contributing both defensively and offensively. In central midfield, Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich will anchor the team, responsible for breaking up opposition play and initiating attacks.
Florian Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann will operate as the two attacking midfielders, positioned just behind the striker. Their creativity and vision will be crucial in linking the midfield with the attack. Leading the line will be Victor Boniface, who will be tasked with finishing the chances created by the midfield and wingbacks. This formation allows Leverkusen to maintain a strong defensive structure while also providing plenty of attacking options.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz; Boniface
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig will continue to cope with the absence of Xaver Schlager, who remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury sustained in May. Additionally, Assan Ouedraogo is out of action due to a knee injury picked up during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, and he is expected to miss several more weeks.
Saturday’s match against Bayer Leverkusen may also come too soon for El Chadaille Bitshiabu, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Willi Orban, who received a red card last weekend, is suspended for this fixture,. So, Lukas Klostermann is likely to step in as a centre-back alongside Castello Lukeba. There is also uncertainty surrounding the inclusion of Mohamed Simakan, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, in the matchday squad.
On a positive note, Eljif Elmas and Christoph Baumgartner have both recovered from knee injuries and were part of the matchday squad last weekend. The midfield duo will be in contention to feature in some capacity against Leverkusen.
RB Leipzig are expected to line up in a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Peter Gulacsi returning in goal, providing stability and leadership from the back. The back four is likely to include Benjamin Henrichs at right centre-back, filling in for the suspended Willi Orban, with Castello Lukeba partnering Lukas Klostermann in central defence. David Raum will occupy the left-back position, offering both defensive cover and attacking support on the flank.
In central midfield, Nicolas Seiwald and Kevin Kampl are expected to operate as the two holding midfielders, tasked with breaking up opposition play and distributing the ball forward. Ahead of them, Amadou Haidara will take up the right attacking midfield role, while Xavi Simons, who has shown great promise since joining Leipzig, will be tasked with pushing forward.
Leading the attack will be Benjamin Sesko, who will be tasked with finishing the opportunities created by the midfield and providing a focal point for Leipzig’s offensive play with Lois Openda for support.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gulacsi; Henrichs, Klostermann, Lukeba, Raum; Seiwald, Kampl; Haidara, Simons; Openda, Sesko
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have won three consecutive Bundesliga games against RB Leipzig for the first time—more wins than in their previous 13 top-flight encounters with the Bulls combined (W2). Leipzig aren’t currently on a losing streak this long against any other side in the Bundesliga
- Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 35 Bundesliga games (W29, D6). Only two sides have ever managed a longer unbeaten run in league history: HSV went 36 matches without losing from 1982 to 1983, and FC Bayern went unbeaten in 53 straight games from 2012 to 2014.
- RB Leipzig are unbeaten in their last 12 Bundesliga games (W8, D4), which is their joint-longest unbeaten run to date under Marco Rose. Only Bayer Leverkusen are currently on a longer run without defeat in the top flight (35 games). Across all competitions, Leipzig are unbeaten in 14 straight matches, their longest such run since the turn of the year in 2022/23 (18 games).
- Last season saw Bayer Leverkusen remain undefeated at home in the Bundesliga for the second time after 1999/2000. Across all competitions and going back to last season, the Werkself are without a loss in their last 29 matches at the BayArena (W22, D7)—their last home defeat came in May 2023 in the Rhine derby against 1. FC Koln (2-1).
- RB Leipzig have conceded at least once in each of their last 14 Bundesliga away games—a new negative club record. Across all competitions, they are without a clean sheet in their last 20 matches on the road, another negative club record in professional football.
Player to Watch
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is undoubtedly the player to watch in this high-profile clash between Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old German playmaker has rapidly established himself as one of the brightest young talents in European football, and his performances have been pivotal in Leverkusen’s recent success.
Wirtz’s creativity, vision, and technical ability make him a constant threat to any defence. He has a unique ability to unlock opposing backlines with precise passes, clever movement, and a keen eye for goal. In Leverkusen’s season opener against Borussia Monchengladbach, Wirtz played a crucial role, scoring the decisive goal in the 101st minute, showing not only his skill but also his composure under pressure.
Given his form and influence, Wirtz will be central to Leverkusen’s efforts to break down a resilient Leipzig side. His ability to link up with teammates like Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface, as well as his knack for scoring important goals, will be key to Leverkusen’s attacking play. With RB Leipzig struggling to keep clean sheets away from home, Wirtz’s creativity and goal-scoring prowess could be the difference-maker in this encounter.
If Wirtz can find space and time on the ball, he has the potential to dictate the tempo of the game and create numerous scoring opportunities for his team. Leipzig’s defence will need to be at their best to contain him, but if Wirtz is allowed to operate freely, he could very well lead Leverkusen to another crucial victory.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 RB Leipzig
Given both teams’ strong starts and unbeaten runs, this match promises to be a closely-contested affair. Leverkusen’s home advantage and their recent dominance over Leipzig could give them the edge. But Leipzig’s resilience under Marco Rose should not be underestimated. A draw seems a likely outcome, though Bayer Leverkusen may have just enough to edge it given their recent ability to dig deep when needed.
