Our next opponents: Leipzig on a roll - and with a youngster on top form

Position

Five consecutive maximum points in a row: RB Leipzig currently share the longest winning streak in the league alongside Bayern Munich. The team from Saxony have lost just one of their last eleven Bundesliga matches (a 1-0 defeat at VfB Stuttgart) and have picked up 26 out of a possible 33 points (8 wins, 2 draws). Coach Ole Werner's in-form team are third in the table and five points ahead of fourth and fifth place and are well on their way to qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. With a win at Leverkusen on Saturday night, the Red Bulls could achieve this major target under their own steam. A draw may also be enough, depending on the outcome of the direct clash between fifth-placed TSG Hoffenheim and fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart in the afternoon.

Be that as it may, RB Leipzig are in a comfortable position with three games to go until the end of the season. After missing out on qualification for a European competition for the first time since being promoted to the Bundesliga in 2016 and only finishing in seventh place last season, the club's return to the top tier of European football is now within reach. RB have already secured a European ticket with a 3-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday 30. Now, however, they are also aiming for the premier European club competition. Matchday 32 could therefore be another public holiday for the Saxons following on from May Day.

Last weekend, they recorded their nineteenth win of the Bundesliga season with a 3-1 victory against Union Berlin. That is a club record after 31 games. "We're really on a roll," said full-back Ridle Baku after the match against the Irons. The Germany international scored to make it 3-0 after Max Finkgräfe and Romulo netted the first two goals. RB Leipzig also hit the woodwork four times and missed some other great chances, while Union were able to reduce the deficit through Danilho Doekhi. RB stalwart and defender Willi Orban (33) was nevertheless happy and looked ahead to the clash with the Werkself: "I'm very happy today. Now we play Leverkusen and that will be very tough. We want to achieve our target of qualifying for the Champions League, so we’ll have to give our all."

Should RB win two of their final three games, Leipzig, who currently have 62 points, would also have set a new club record in their tenth year in the top flight. They finished runners-up in their debut season in 2016/17 with 67 points.

Personnel

Captain David Raum had to miss the last match against Union Berlin due to groin problems. It remains to be seen whether the international will be ready for action again by Saturday. If not, Max Finkgräfe is again likely to take his place on the left side of defence. Centre-back Castello Lukeba, who was absent against Union due to a muscle injury, returned to full training this week and he is also a candidate to start, as is holding midfielder Nicolas Seiwald, who was unavailable last weekend due to illness but has since recovered. In front of goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt, Willi Orban and either El Chadaille Bitshiabu or his French compatriot Lukeba could defend in the centre of the back four. Ridle Baku is the first choice on the right side of defence. The roles in the RBL midfield are also usually clearly defined and firmly in Austrian hands: the internationals Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald and Christoph Baumgartner generally determine the rhythm and tempo of the RB game. However, 19-year-old Assan Ouédraogo has also made a name for himself. The new Germany international has already been involved in six goals (three goals, three assists) in 16 appearances so far. Coach Ole Werner also has little reason to make changes in attack and is likely to once again rely on the trio of Yan Diomande, centre-forward Romulo and Antonio Nusa.

Unavailable for Leipzig at Leverkusen are reserve keeper Leopold Zingerle (hand injury), midfielders Ezechiel Banzuzi (knee injury) and Viggo Gebel (back in training after a torn cruciate) and left-winger Suleman Sani (hip injury).

Problems

Taking chances has been a recurring theme throughout this season. Although RB Leipzig have created the most big chances after Bayern and are just ahead of the Werkself, they are only 14th in terms of converting them. Dominating games and attacking strength are not always reflected in the results. Take Union Berlin, for example: "We could have sealed the win in the first half," said coach Ole Werner. "You have to say we should have finished the game more seriously and scored more goals," complained RB managing director of sport Marcel Schäfer. However, Leipzig have also often been unlucky: 17 shots against the woodwork is by far the highest number in the league.

Performers

Two names in particular up front stand for Leipzig's impressive season: Yan Diomande and Christoph Baumgartner. Youngster Diomande (19) has already scored twelve goals and set up a further eight in his first season for RB. His 20 goal involvements are only surpassed by Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, who has 27 goals and assists, in the top five European leagues among teenagers. Diomande, who as an Ivory Coast international will play against at this summer’s World Cup, also has the most dribbles (196) in this Bundesliga season and could become the first Leipzig player to break the 200 mark in a season. He once again gave a taste of his dribbling prowess in the last away game in Frankfurt, when Diomande scored for Leipzig after a remarkable solo run - the fifth time this season he has scored the opener for his team. Last weekend, he set up two goals against Union. "He's someone where you always expect something special to happen," said coach Werner. "I think it's now the case that the full-backs are already hoping he'll play on the other side. He's simply unstoppable," said the coach about his forward, who he also describes as having "top character and exceptional talent".

With twelve goals and nine assists, Christoph Baumgartner has one more goal/assist than Diomande. Like his Ivorian team-mate, the attacking midfielder has also scored five times for RB. Brazilian Romulo, who is also one of the top ten scorers and providers in the league with nine goals and seven assists, also provides plenty of goalscoring threat. With a total of 62 goals, RB Leipzig have the fourth-best attack in the league alongside the Werkself.