RB Leipzig will hope to return to their best when they face Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
RB Leipzig will look to return to winning ways in the Bundesliga as they welcome Borussia Monchengladbach to Red Bull Arena on Saturday. Following their first league defeat of the season to Borussia Dortmund and a midweek loss to Celtic in the UEFA Champions League, Leipzig will aim to regain their momentum and consolidate their position near the top of the table.
RB Leipzig, currently second in the Bundesliga with 20 points, are coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. Manager Marco Rose’s side failed to capitalise on Dortmund’s makeshift defence, which featured midfielders Emre Can and Pascal Gross.
Leipzig struggled to create clear chances, managing less than 0.5 xG and no big chances throughout the game. The team’s form has been inconsistent in recent weeks, with three losses and two wins in their last five matches across all competitions.
Despite their recent struggles, Leipzig have been strong defensively, conceding only five goals in the league—the best defensive record in the Bundesliga. Additionally, they remain unbeaten in their last 11 home Bundesliga matches a streak that Rose’s men will look to extend against Gladbach.
Borussia Monchengladbach head into this game on the back of a convincing 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen, where they had already established a 3-0 lead by half-time. Manager Gerardo Seoane will be pleased with this result, especially considering recent pressure and rumours of a potential managerial change. Sporting director Roland Virkus expressed support for Seoane following the victory, which could provide a boost to the squad’s morale.
Die Fohlen have been solid offensively, scoring 15 goals in nine league games, but have also conceded 14 times, placing them in the middle ranks for both scoring and defensive records. Their recent Bundesliga form includes two wins and a draw in their last three games, but their away form has been problematic.
Gladbach have won just two of their last 18 Bundesliga road games, with 10 losses in that stretch—a concerning trend as they face a strong Leipzig side at Red Bull Arena. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig will be without several key players for their clash against Borussia Monchengladbach. Defender Castello Lukeba has been ruled out, alongside fellow defenders David Raum and Lutsharel Geertruida, weakening their backline options.
Midfielder Xaver Schlager is also unavailable and is expected to remain sidelined until January. Additionally, Dutch attacker Xavi Simons is out of contention, leaving Leipzig without one of their creative forces.
In a probable 4-4-2 formation, Peter Gulacsi is expected to start as the goalkeeper. The backline will likely feature El Chadaille Bitshiabu at left-back, with Lukas Klostermann and Willi Orban as the central defenders and Benjamin Henrichs occupying the right-back position.
In midfield, Christoph Baumgartner is expected to start on the right wing, while Antonio Nusa plays on the left. Arthur Vermeeren and Amadou Haidara are anticipated to form the central midfield pairing, providing a blend of defensive coverage and transitional play.
Up front, the attacking duo of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda will lead the line, bringing pace and goal-scoring ability to Leipzig’s offense.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Bitshiabu, Klostermann, Orban, Henrichs; Baumgartner, Vermeeren, Haidara, Nusa; Sesko, Openda
Borussia Monchengladbach
Borussia Monchengladbach have a few absentees ahead of their clash with RB Leipzig. Goalkeeper Jan Olschowsky remains out, along with defenders Luca Netz and Nico Elvedi, impacting their defensive lineup. Yvandro Borges Sanches is also unavailable and is not expected to return until December. However, forward Robin Hack is expected to be fit and may feature in the lineup.
In a probable 4-2-3-1 formation, Moritz Nicolas will start in goal. The backline will consist of Joe Scally at right-back, with Marvin Friedrich and Ko Itakura forming the central defensive pairing, and Lukas Ullrich at left-back.
In midfield, Rocco Reitz and Julian Weigl are expected to anchor the team as the double pivot, providing defensive stability and facilitating ball distribution. Franck Honorat is likely to start on the right wing, with Kevin Stoger in the central attacking midfield role, and Robin Hack on the left wing, adding creativity and support to the attack.
Up front, Tim Kleindienst is expected to lead the line as the lone striker, aiming to capitalise on scoring opportunities against Leipzig’s defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Nicolas; Scally, Friedrich, Itakura, Ullrich; Reitz, Weigl; Honorat, Stoger, Hack; Kleindienst
Key Stats
- Borussia Monchengladbach average only 0.75 points per Bundesliga game against RB Leipzig, their worst return against any side. Leipzig have won each of the last three meetings without conceding a goal and have never lost away to Gladbach in the top flight (W5 D3).
- A 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund on matchday 9 ended RB Leipzig’s 19-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga (W13 D6). Leipzig currently have 20 points from nine games, identical to their record at this stage last season (W6 D2 L1), with only the 2016/17 season being better (21 points).
- Borussia Monchengladbach are unbeaten in their last three Bundesliga games, securing 7 out of nine possible points (W2 D1). This is their best three-game sequence in a year, but they haven’t won consecutive Bundesliga matches within a single season since March 2022.
- RB Leipzig are on an 11-game unbeaten run at home in the Bundesliga since a 3-2 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on January 20, 2024 (W 8 D3). They have conceded only three goals in these 11 matches, recording eight clean sheets. Only VfB Stuttgart have a longer home undefeated streak (16 games).
- Despite conceding three goals in their last two league games, RB Leipzig boast the best defence in the Bundesliga this season with only five goals conceded, setting a new club record at this stage of the season. The last team to concede as few goals after nine games was VfL Wolfsburg in 2019/20 (also 5).
Player to Watch
Lois Openda
Known for his blistering pace, sharp dribbling, and finishing ability, Openda has been pivotal in RB Leipzig’s attack, creating numerous scoring opportunities and proving to be a constant threat to opposition defences.
In the upcoming match against Borussia Monchengladbach, Openda’s ability to exploit defensive gaps will be crucial, especially against a Gladbach side dealing with injuries in their backline. His movement off the ball and knack for finding space between defenders make him difficult to mark, and his chemistry with strike partner Benjamin Sesko has only enhanced Leipzig’s attacking prowess.
With Leipzig eager to get back to winning form after a recent defeat, Openda will be instrumental in their efforts to break down Gladbach’s defence. His pace and agility, combined with his eye for goal, could make the difference in what is expected to be a challenging fixture. Expect Openda to play a key role, both as a goalscorer and as a creator, as Leipzig seek to reclaim momentum in the Bundesliga.
Prediction
RB Leipzig 2-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Given RB Leipzig’s strength at home and Gladbach’s struggles on the road, the hosts are favourites to secure a victory in this encounter. Leipzig’s defensive organization and attacking firepower should be enough to outmatch a Gladbach side that has been inconsistent this season.
RB Leipzig’s solid defence and home advantage should see them claim all three points, putting their recent struggles behind them and staying competitive at the top of the Bundesliga table. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Marco Rose and his charges.
