Our next opponents: Options up front for RB Leipzig

Position

It was hard work and really tight at the end. But last weekend saw a 3-2 victory against FC Augsburg. The third win in succession for RB Leipzig. "We are back on track," said Kevin Kampl who scored his first goal in nearly three years in the game and provided the assist for Timo Werner to make it 3-1. Kampl, alongside double goalscorer Werner the best Leipzig player, was also critical: "I think we made it unnecessarily exciting in the second half. That can't happen. We can't afford to allow such an open game. We have to be more organised." Timo Werner backed up his teammate: "We just have to get back to having fun and joy playing over 90 minutes and not – as against Augsburg– ease off too much after making it 3-1. We are a team who always has to go for it."

The team have already shown in this season what they are capable of when they play at full pace. RB Leipzig are unbeaten in 18 games in succession, with 14 wins, from October 2022 to the beginning of February 2023, that was followed by a dip in form in March of this year with three partly bitter away defeats: The to-one defeat at Borussia Dortmund, the crushing exit from the Champions league in the Round of 16 with the 7-0 defeat at Manchester City, and the 1-0 loss at VfL Bochum. There was also a 3-0 defeat at home to Mainz 05 on 1 April. The Red Bulls, who were only four points behind league leaders FC Bayern at the end of February, were out of the title race. The team was in crisis.

Things are looking up for the team currently in fourth place after the last two wins in the league at Hertha Berlin (1-0) and against Augsburg as well as the 2-0 victory in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup against Borussia Dortmund. Timo Werner is annoyed given the fluctuation in form of the two rivals at the top of the league: "If you see how Dortmund and Bayern are struggling at the moment then you have to pinch yourself two and three times that he didn't play better in the weeks where you let things slip."

Leipzig (51 points) are currently in a three-way battle with Union Berlin (52) and SC Freiburg (50) four two Champions League places. If they lose at Bayer 04 (44) on Sunday then the season run-in could develop into a four-way battle. They obviously want to avoid that. "It will be a big, cool challenge for us in Leverkusen but we have to look forward to it," said head coach Marco Rose ahead of the away game.

Personnel

The coach will have to manage without David Raum on Sunday. The left-sided player picked up his fifth yellow card against Augsburg and is suspended. He could be replaced in the starting line-up by Marcel Halstenberg. Still sidelined are goalkeeper Peter Gulasci (torn cruciate) and midfielder Xaver Schlager (ankle injury).

In defence, in front of goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, are regular starters in vice captain Willi Orban and Josko Gvardiol. Against Augsburg, the Germany international Lukas Klostermann made his first start after two months on the right of the back three. Mohamed Simakan had to miss out against FCA due to knee problems but returns the squad this weekend. Whether Marco Rose will play a back three at the BayArena or change a back four was left open by the coach on Friday.

The former Leverkusen players Benjamin Henrichs and Kevin Kampl, who both came through the youth set-up at Bayer 04, could start again – Henrichs on the right flank, Kampl as the tireless enforcer and dynamo in midfield. In addition to the 32-year-old, who Marco Rose said produced a top performance against Augsburg, the coach also has Konrad Laimer and Amadou Haidara as options in the centre of midfield.

Rose also has lots of options in attack. Top goalscorer Christopher Nkunku (12 goals) made his comeback against Augsburg after six weeks on the sidelines due to a torn muscle. He came on in the 75th minute and may also be a substitute in Leverkusen. Yussuf Poulsen (illness) and Emil Forsberg (muscular problems) are back in the squad.

A regular starter up front is Timo Werner, who is getting better and better., The striker, who suffered a torn ligament in November in the Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk (4-0) and was out for three months, took longer to recover than expected, "until the fitness and liveliness were back." The Germany international will play Bundesliga match 150 for RB Leipzig against Bayer 04. The 27-year-old clocked up a century of Bundesliga goals in the 3-2 win against FC Augsburg. No less important for the attacking approach of the team from Saxony is the Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai with eight assists (four goals) the best provider in the team and the Spain international Dani Olmo (four assists, two goals) who is returning to top form after an injury lay-off of several weeks. André Silva is always capable of scoring at the top of the attack.

Performers

Without a doubt: When the Werkself entertain the Red Bulls from Leipzig at the BayArena on Sunday, the game will involve two teams amongst the best in the league in terms of tempo, transition play and passing football. On the one hand, RB have excellent players in attack, they have made the second most passes after Bayern, have the third best pass completion rate and create the second most goalscoring opportunities. No wonder that RB Leipzig have scored the third highest number of goals of all clubs with 53 to date. The Werkself are just behind in fourth place (51 goals). With 18 different goalscorers, RB are also in an excellent position in terms of threat on goal – the Werkself are just behind (17).

One specialty of the Rose team is set pieces. They are fourth in the rankings with 16 goals. The team from Saxony also have one of the strongest defences in the league with 35 goals conceded the third lowest number.

Problems

In spite of all the quality in attack: Leipzig have not always been able to produce their great potential on the pitch. The wins against Hertha Berlin and Augsburg were hard-earned victories with the Saxons on top in phases but also unfocussed and careless at other times. The closing stages the game against Augsburg were described as the RB sporting managing director Max Eberl as "sloppy." And coach Marco Rose was not fully satisfied despite the victory: "We didn't finish the game off and invited the opponents onto us because we didn't have any control any more and were unable to hold on to the ball. We have to be better in the coming weeks to achieve our targets."

Prediction

And the targets for Leipzig are clearly defined: Hold on to fourth place at least to be able to play in the Champions League next term for the sixth time in seven years. On the other hand, the Saxons want to defend their DFB Cup title. They play SC Freiburg in the semi-final on 2 May who they beat on penalties in last year's final. Four days later they play Freiburg again in the league. Two really important clashes which will show if Leipzig can have another successful season. Before that, there is the task away from home in Leverkusen. RB have not lost any of their last six games in Leverkusen (three wins, three draws). "We are facing a strong opponent but I'm confident that we can pick up three points," said Lukas Klosterman in confident mood. Timo Werner speculated: "Leverkusen are going through a very good phase but it could be a slight advantage to us that they played in the Europa League on Thursday. But, on the other hand, it could be that the opposition are flying high and we are aware of that." A win at the BayArena would make RB Leipzig a competitor for the Champions League places and they could focus on a three-way battle with Freiburg and Union Berlin.