In a clash that will impact the race for Champions League football, RB Leipzig will host Borussia Dortmund at Red Bull Arena on Saturday in the Bundesliga.
Die Roten Bullen drew 0-0 with Freiburg on March 8 and are in sixth place with 39 points, while Dortmund have 35 points following their 1-0 defeat against Augsburg in the league last Saturday and are in 10th place.
Match preview
© Imago
The hosts' clash with Freiburg was defined by missed chances for both teams, though Leipzig will perhaps feel they should have claimed all three points given the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Castello Lukeba squandered golden chances in front of goal from just yards out.
Die Roten Bullen's form in the final third has been inconsistent for some time, with the club failing to score in four of their last eight matches.
Leipzig are three points from fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who occupy the final Champions League qualifications spot, but only six points separate them from 12th-placed Werder Bremen.
Boss Marco Rose will hope to avoid suffering a second defeat in the league against BVB having lost 2-1 against the visitors on November 2, a game in which Leipzig faced six big chances while creating none of their own.
Rose's side have struggled for victories in the past weeks, winning three, drawing six and losing three of their last 12 in all competitions.
However, Leipzig's form at home has been largely excellent considering they have won five, drawn two and lost one of their eight most recent games at Red Bull Arena.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Dortmund somehow lost against Augsburg despite only facing one shot on target, 0.2 xG and no big chances.
The visitors had kept clean sheets in their prior two league matches, and they have scored at least two goals in seven of their past 11 Bundesliga outings.
It should be noted that BVB did bounce back from their league defeat by beating Lille 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, advancing to the quarter-finals of the competition where they will face Barcelona.
Head coach Niko Kovac has only been in charge for six top-flight games, but he has already overseen three victories in the Bundesliga, as many as his team had managed in their prior 11 in the league.
Dortmund have only been beaten once in their last six matches in all competitions, with the visitors winning on three occasions.
Kovac's side have also been strong away from home having emerged victorious in four of their past five on the road, scoring eight goals while conceding four times.
Team News
© Imago
Leipzig will be without forward Antonio Nusa, and his absence will likely see Xavi Simons and Ridle Baku flank strikers Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda.
Full-back Benjamin Henrichs is not scheduled to return until late May, so perhaps fans will see Lutsharel Geertruida and David Raum start in defence.
Amadou Haidara and Arthur Vermeeren are almost certain to play given Forzan Assan Ouedraogo, Kevin Kampl and Xaver Schlager are set to miss out.
Opponents Dortmund will have to find ways of dealing with the absence of defender Daniel Svensson, so expect Julian Ryerson, Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini to feature in the backline.
Midfielder Felix Nmecha has also been ruled out, and that could mean Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross will start in a double pivot.
In the forward line, Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are likely to support striker Serhou Guirassy.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Geertruida, Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum; Baku, Haidara, Vermeeren, Xavi; Sesko, Openda
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Gross; Adeyemi, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy
We say: RB Leipzig 2-2 Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund have been excellent on the road, and they should be confident of finding the back of the net on Saturday.
However, Leipzig's record at home is also strong, and it would not be surprising if the two sides played out an entertaining stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
