Saturday’s conflict between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund is not going to lack any spice regardless of either side within the midst of struggling home seasons. Photograph: AFP/File
BERLIN:
RB Leipzig host in-form Borussia Dortmund on Saturday within the Bundesliga with hopes of Champions League soccer subsequent season fading away.
Nevertheless, with Dortmund coach Robert Kovac going through an damage disaster in defence and Leipzig holding a current hoodoo over the guests, Ole Werner and his aspect might be cautiously optimistic.
Regardless of lacking out on European soccer final season, Leipzig haven’t benefitted from their diminished workload this time period and sit fifth within the league desk, one level forward of sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen who’ve a sport in hand.
After a robust begin to the season, profitable eight and dropping simply as soon as in a 10-match run, Leipzig have struggled. The membership haven’t received two league video games in a row since early November and have received simply three of their previous 10 matches in all competitions.
Once more lacking out on Europe’s prime competitors and the riches it brings can be a blow to the Crimson Bull-backed membership, who’ve one of the vital gifted rosters in German soccer.
Dortmund, then again, march into the fixture in nice type. With just one league defeat this season, Dortmund have gone up a gear in 2026.
The 2024 Champions League finalists are on a six-match profitable run within the Bundesliga and have drawn six factors behind league leaders Bayern Munich, who have been 11 factors clear at Christmas.
It is not all plain-sailing although as Kovac confirmed Thursday Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Suele, Emre Can and Filippo Mane is not going to return on Saturday.
“We’re not underestimating Leipzig, regardless of their current outcomes,” Kovac mentioned. “They play simply as soon as every week, can put together all the things and are contemporary.”
Certainly, current historical past suggests the Bundesliga’s type aspect can take nothing as a right once they journey to the Crimson Bull Area.
Leipzig have received their previous 5 house matches in opposition to Dortmund by a cumulative rating of 13-2.
Since Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho impressed Dortmund to victory over Leipzig within the 2021 German Cup closing, Borussia have solely received two of 10 video games in opposition to the Crimson Bulls in all competitions.
Leipzig coach Werner promised Thursday that his aspect would do their half to make sure it was an entertaining fixture.
“We’re not recognized for enjoying cautiously and we cannot do this in opposition to Dortmund both,” he mentioned. “Now we have to be at our greatest always.”
Elsewhere, leaders Bayern host Eintracht Frankfurt and Leverkusen might leapfrog Leipzig once they journey to Union Berlin on Saturday.
One to look at: Dayot Upamecano
With the ink now dry on his four-year contract extension, Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano has turned his full focus to his aspect’s on-field ambitions.
With Bayern on prime of the Bundesliga by to the Champions League final 16 and within the semi-finals of the German Cup, the France centre-back believes his aspect have each probability of profitable the treble.
“That is what we wish,” Upamecano informed the Bundesliga web site on Thursday.
“We’re taking it from sport to sport. We’re centered on the sport in opposition to Frankfurt. It is vital we do this.”
Key stats
4 – All 4 of Borussia Dortmund’s targets in opposition to Mainz final matchday have been assisted by Julian Ryerson.
3 – Bayern have taken the lead by way of a Harry Kane penalty of their final three matches.
6 – Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy has six targets in his previous 4 video games.
