RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose will hope to cling onto his job when his struggling team take on Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday at Red Bull Arena in their 14th Bundesliga game of the season.
Die Roten Bullen are fourth in the league with 24 points and were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday when they lost 3-2 against Aston Villa, while the Eagles are second in the top flight after 13 matchweeks and have 27 points following their 2-2 draw with Augsburg on December 7.
Match preview
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Leipzig became the first team to be knocked out of the Champions League, with the club having lost all six of their European matches this season after conceding an 85th-minute winner against Villa.
Reports have since emerged that the club's hierarchy intend to let Rose remain in his position as manager for the start of the second half of 2024-25, but they also suggest that former Bayer Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt could be given the role if results do not improve.
Die Roten Bullen did beat Holstein Kiel 2-0 on December 7 last time out in the Bundesliga, a match in which they created just two big chances, the same amount as their 17th-placed and second last opponents.
Rose's side have struggled all season in the final third, with the team netting one or fewer goals in five of their last nine matches.
Leipzig are in poor overall form, as while they have won two of their three most recent fixtures, they lost five of the prior six.
The hosts' record at Red Bull Arena in the past weeks is mixed given they have lost two, drawn one and triumphed in one of their last four matches at home, conceding eight and scoring six in that period.
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Meanwhile, the Eagles will be disappointed that they allowed Bayern Munich to extend their lead at the top of the league to six points when they failed to beat Augsburg.
However, boss Dino Toppmoller should not be too disheartened considering his side are currently on track to collect 70 points, 23 more than they tallied last term.
The Eagles were also beaten 3-2 by Lyon on Thursday in the Europa League despite opening the scoring in the 18th minute, but they could have arguably conceded more considering they faced six big chances.
Toppmoller admitted that his team deserved to lose when his team were beaten 3-0 by Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal on December 4, telling reporters: "Leipzig deserved to win. They bought our edge in the duels. We always have to bring the basics to the pitch right from the start - we didn't manage to do that."
Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in their last three fixtures, though they did emerge victorious in the prior seven and have won four and drawn one of their five most recent Bundesliga games.
The visitors' form on the road is fairly strong, with the club having won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six away league matches, but it should be noted that they were defeated in four of the prior five away outings in the top flight.
Team News
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Leipzig have numerous absentees to contend with, including defenders Castello Lukeba and David Raum.
Rose could start Willi Orban and Lutsharel Geertruida as centre-backs next to full-backs Lukas Klostermann and Benjamin Henrichs.
Given that midfielders Amadou Haidara, Forzan Assan Ouedraogo and Eljif Elmas have also been ruled out, as well as that Arthur Vermeeren is suspended, the hosts may line up with Nicolas Seiwald and Kevin Kampl in the middle of the pitch.
Attackers Xavi Simons and Yussuf Poulsen are unavailable, so expect to see Lois Openda partner Benjamin Sesko.
As for the Eagles, they will be without centre-backs Aurele Amenda and Tuta, and this could mean that Arthur Theate and Robin Koch are chosen to protect goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
Midfielders Eric Ebimbe and Hugo Larsson are not expected to make the matchday squad, so perhaps Ellyes Skhiri and Mahmoud Dahoud will start in a double pivot.
Talisman Omar Marmoush is certain to be given the nod up front, and he is likely to be joined by Hugo Ekitike.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Geertruida, Henrichs; Baumgartner, Seiwald, Kampl, Nusa; Sesko, Openda
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Kristensen, Theate, Koch, Nkounkou; Gotze, Skhiri, Dahoud, Brown; Ekitike, Marmoush
We say: RB Leipzig 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
RB Leipzig will no doubt be low on confidence considering their poor form, and it would not be surprising if they conceded first on Sunday.
Additionally, despite Eintracht Frankfurt's recent difficulties, they have been largely excellent this campaign and should be favourites to take all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
