Our next opponents: Leipzig set to rotate against Bayer 04?

Position

In the end it was a relief for Leipzig: After looking certain winners following a 3-1 lead, the Red Bulls almost threw it away in the game at Hannover 96. The match finished with a 3-2 victory only after a potential equaliser for Hannover was ruled out after consulting the VAR. The mood in the Leipzig camp was rather subdued in spite of the win: Ralph Hasenhüttl 's team appeared to have lost their way in the closing stages and handed over control of the game. Nevertheless: The three points took the Saxons above Bayer 04 into fourth place – a Champions League qualification position. RB can also qualify for Europe's premier club competition by another route – by winning the Europa League. The Bulls, the last German team in the competition, drew the top French team Olympique Marseille in the quarter-finals. RB won 1-0 in the first leg at home on Thursday with the return match on the Mediterranean three days after the game against the Werkself.

personnel

It will be interesting to see what changes coach Ralph Hasenhüttl makes to his line-up after the game against Marseille. After other Europa League fixtures he has made five or six changes to his starting eleven. He is in the fortunate position of being able to rotate, particularly up front, without losing hardly any quality: Given the strength of the Leipzig attack, there are no automatic first choices for important games with the exception of Germany striker Timo Werner (pictured above) and the impressive Emil Forsberg. The alternatives for the position alongside Werner are the Dane Yussuf Poulsen and the highly talented Frenchman Jean-Kévin Augustin with the speedy Bruma, Marcel Sabitzer and Ademola Lookman possibles on the flanks in addition to Forsberg. The last of the trio could be a serious option for the encounter with the Werkself as the 20-year-old player, on loan from Everton, cannot play in the Europa League. He is often used in Bundesliga games following European ties. Despite the high number of games, there are few injury concerns worries to add to left back Marcel Halstenberg, ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn cruciate, although Hasenhüttl will have to make do without Konrad Laimer. The right back picked up a thigh muscle injury in the match against Marseille. Sabitzer plus midfielders Stefan Ilsanker and Naby Keita have recovered from injury in recent weeks but are unlikely to go the full distance in both matches.

problems

Even though the loss of quality appears to be minimal in the event of rotation: The results for the Red Bulls in the Bundesliga after Europa League matches  have been mixed. After progressing to the next round in St. Petersburg, they secured a win against the apparently  untouchable Bayern Munich, but the three previous matches after a European night on a Thursday ended in draws against Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Köln and VfB Stuttgart. That trend has been evident throughout the season: Although RB strengthened their squad in the summer (including signing the former Leverkusen midfielder Kevin Kampl), Leipzig have found it difficult to reproduce the form of last year's first season in the top flight with one victory after the next that saw the campaign end with them finishing as runners-up. A development that can definitely be traced back to the additional matches but perhaps also the fact opponents in the Bundesliga are now better prepared to face an approach based on pressing that saw the Bulls race up to the top of the  table last season

potential

They  say  the second Bundesliga season is the hardest. The fact RB Leipzig, in spite of the extra games in Europe and the long injury lay-off to top player Forsberg, are still in with a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League again says everything about the possibilities for the club from Saxony over the next few years. Both in terms of finance and organisation, the club is on equal terms with the absolute top teams in Germany. The business model of signing young players from across Europe  has proved to be a complete success so far. Players like the three Frenchmen Dayot Upamecano (19), Ibrahima Konaté (18) and Jean-Kévin Augustin (20) bode well for the future – although Upamecano and Augustin are already first choices. It will be interesting to see to what extent the Leipzig Academy – another mainstay of the still young club – will be able to compensate for the departure of top players like Naby Keita set to move to Liverpool next season.

prediction

In terms of potential on the pitch, Leipzig can compete with any other team in the Bundesliga. The problematic area  – as with the majority of teams currently involved in European competition – is a lack of consistency. If Hasenhüttl's team get a grip of that in the Bundesliga run-in then RB will be in the Champions League next term. Otherwise it will probably come down to the last matchday to separate the teams in the top third of the Bundesliga. The Saxons are almost certain to qualify for the Europa League – and they are still in with a shout in that competition this season.