RB Leipzig will miss out on European football if they lose against visitors Stuttgart on Saturday at Red Bull Arena in their final Bundesliga game of the season.
Die Roten Bullen are seventh with 51 points following their 0-0 draw with Werder Bremen on May 10, while opponents Stuttgart beat Augsburg 4-0 on May 11 and are in ninth place with 47 points.
Match preview
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Leipzig could have easily been beaten by Werder Bremen, who failed to convert any of their six big chances when they faced off.
The hosts' clean sheet was their first in eight games, a period in which they had conceded 15 goals, and it should be noted that they have failed to score in two of their last three fixtures.
Though interim boss Zsolt Low will know that his side are level on points with sixth-placed Mainz 05, who occupy the Conference League spot, their goal difference of six is half that of Mainz and means defeat on Saturday is almost certain to see them miss out on Europe.
Leipzig's record in the last weeks has been poor, with the club winless in four matches, being held to three stalemates.
Die Roten Bullen have drawn their last two home outings, but they did win seven of their prior 10 at Red Bull Arena, losing just once.
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As for Stuttgart, they were aided against Augsburg by the fact they faced 10 men from the 12th minute onwards when they were already winning 1-0, and fans will perhaps be concerned that it took them until the 51st minute to score their second goal.
Die Roten kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time since May 2024, with the team having played 45 games in that time.
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness oversaw a 2-1 victory against Leipzig in the reverse fixture on January 15, and his side have in fact won their last three encounters against their hosts by a cumulative score of 10-4.
Though Stuttgart have emerged as victors in their past two, they were defeated in two of their previous three, drawing the other match.
It should be highlighted that the visitors have only lost two of their 13 most recent matches away from home, winning on seven occasions.
Team News
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Leipzig are dealing with somewhat of a crisis in the defence given Lukas Klostermann is suspended, while Benjamin Henrichs and Willi Orban are both injured.
Perhaps Castello Lukeba and Chadaille Bitshiabu will be stationed in central defence, while David Raum and Kosta Nedeljkovic may start as full-backs.
Midfielder Amadou Haidara is still dealing with ligament damage, and his injury may lead to the selection of Nicolas Seiwald and Arthur Vermeeren in the middle of the pitch.
Opponents Stuttgart will be without a number of players, including defenders Ameen Al Dakhil, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Finn Jeltsch and Leonidas Stergiou.
Considering so many players will be absent, Hoeness could field a back four consisting of Josha Vagnoman, Luca Jaquez, Julian Chabot, Maximilian Mittelstadt
Midfield stalwart Angelo Stiller was forced off the pitch against Augsburg in the first half, and his absence is likely to lead to appearances for Atakan Karazor and Enzo Millot.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Nedeljkovic, Bitshiabu, Lukeba, Raum; Baku, Seiwald, Vermeeren, Simons; Sesko, Openda
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Jaquez, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Millot, Fuhrich; Undav, Woltemade
We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Stuttgart
It is difficult to see either side keeping a clean sheet given both will be missing key players in their respective backlines.
However, Leipzig's record at home is strong and Stuttgart will also be missing arguably their best midfielder, so the hosts should be seen as favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
