RB Leipzig take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with the visitors able to overtake their forthcoming opponents into second place in the table with a victory.
Both sides are looking to bounce back from disappointing defeats last weekend.
Match preview
© Reuters
Leipzig's 3-2 defeat to second-bottom Mainz 05 was a particularly gruelling one given that it was the hosts' first home win of the season.
Indeed, Julian Nagelsmann's side twice took the lead in the first half through Tyler Adams's and Marcel Halstenberg's close-range finishes, but were pegged back on both occasions by Moussa Niakhate after sloppy set-piece defending.
Superb wing play by Danny da Costa set up Leandro Barreiro at the near post, with the midfielder's delightfully deft touch proving enough to earn a massive three points for Mainz in their unlikely attempt to survive relegation.
For Leipzig, it leaves them seven points behind league leaders Bayern, with the club's first ever Bundesliga title likely to have to wait for at least another season. Beating Leverkusen would be a huge step to securing Champions League football once again, though, with plenty still left to play for this season.
© Reuters
Leverkusen, meanwhile, followed up the superb 2-1 victory over top-four rivals Borussia Dortmund by disappointingly losing 1-0 at home to Wolfsburg last weekend.
Peter Bosz's side pressed well in the early exchanges, with Lucas Alario hitting the post with a header from Moussa Diaby's brilliant inswinging cross, before Florian Wirtz scuffed a decent chance straight into the arms of Koen Casteels.
Leverkusen's profligacy was quickly punished by Ridle Baku, though, with the winger decisively heading past Lukas Hradecky after Renato Steffen's curling cross accurately found his teammate at the back post.
The lack of second-half response would have been a major concern to Bosz, with Daley Sinkgraven's powerful strike from outside of the area the closest his side came to finding an equaliser. The defeat leaves Leverkusen in serious danger of dropping out of the top four if they cannot gain a positive result in Leipzig on Saturday.
RB Leipzig Bundesliga form: DWLDWL
RB Leipzig form (all competitions): WWLDWL
Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form: LLDLWL
Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions): LDWLWL
Team News
© Reuters
Leipzig will be without Yussuf Poulsen, Kevin Kampl, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Benjamin Henrichs and Konrad Laimer due to the visit of Leverkusen.
Nagelsmann must decide whether to utilise the presence of Alexander Sorloth in attack or go with the false nine system which worked well earlier in the season.
Leverkusen's injury issues continue to grow, meanwhile, with Lars Bender, Julian Baumgartlinger, Patrik Schick, Mitchell Weiser, Sven Bender, Santiago Arias and Paulinho all out of the trip to Leipzig.
It leaves Bosz with very few selection decisions to make, with Aleksandar Dragovic likely to deputise out of position at right-back again.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulasci; Orban, Upamecano, Halstenberg; Mukiele, Haidara, Sabitzer, Angelino; Olmo, Forsberg; Sorloth
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Dragovic, Tah, Tapsoba, Sinkgraven; Wirtz, Aranguiz, Amiri; Diaby, Alario, Bailey
We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Both sides have significant injury issues, but Leipzig look to be missing fewer key players and should have enough to secure a narrow victory.
While the title looks a long shot now, Nagelsmann will be expected to comfortably secure a top four position this season, and a win here would go a long way towards achieving that aim.
