Our next opponents: Young, hungry and capable of development

Position

"A game like this before the winter break is always important in terms of feelings," said RBL captain David Raum ahead of the last game of the year against the Werkself. Of course, a win would make Leipzig feel good. Especially as the gap to the visitors from the Rhineland could grow to six points. "We have to make sure we impose our game on them at our stadium and are dominant," explained Raum.

Coach Ole Werner's team also dominated at Union Berlin last weekend. Nevertheless, they ended up losing 3-1 to the Irons. Raum called Leipzig's third defeat of the season a "small setback". Previously, they had only lost in the opening game at Bayern Munich (0-6) and at TSG Hoffenheim (1-3). In between there were two impressive 6-0 victories against FC Augsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt. RB thrilled their fans against the Frankfurt team at the Red Bull Arena on St Nicholas' Day. "We shone in terms of our play and showed a high level of commitment and discipline, that was a great performance," said RB managing director of sport Marcel Schäfer in praising the team, but immediately added: "But you can see we’re not yet a top team, because seven days later we slipped up at Union Berlin. We knew we could expect a tough fight and a difficult pitch. Nevertheless, we didn't fulfil our tasks as we’d discussed. That's why we deserved to lose. It's extremely annoying."

Because the team from Saxony have big ambitions. After a disappointing seventh place last season - the worst finish in its history as a Bundesliga club - Leipzig are not in Europe for the first time since 2016/17. A return to European competition is therefore the first step now, according to Schäfer. "Of course, our goal is to play in the best competition - the Champions League." RBL are well on the way there. Before matchday 15, Leipzig were in second place on 29 points, making them FC Bayern's number one rivals. This is a very good interim position, especially considering that the club - like Bayer 04 - had to cope with an enormous personnel upheaval in the summer. "Our aim is for this squad to play together for the next two to three years," says Schäfer. "We want to attack, build something and get the maximum out of this club."

Personnel

Like the Werkself, who are sending four players to the African Cup of Nations, RB Leipzig will also have to manage without two players who are taking part in AFCON on Saturday: Shooting star Yan Diomande will line up for Ivory Coast, while Amadou Haidara will start for Mali. While Haidara has not yet featured this season due to injury, the absence of Diomande will definitely weaken Leipzig. The Ivorian has already netted six goals for RB Leipzig, making him the team's joint top scorer along with Christoph Baumgartner.

Ole Werner also has to make changes on the other wing. Antonio Nusa is out due to a syndesmosis injury and Johan Bakayoko is sidelined due to muscular problems. Tidiam Gomis, who scored the equaliser at Union Berlin, and Timo Werner are options on the wing. The 29-year-old former Germany international Werner was on loan to Tottenham Hotspur until the summer, but has only made two league appearances for RB this season.

RB Leipzig will also be missing midfielders Ezechiel Banzuzi (muscle injury), Assan Ouedraogo (tendon injury), Viggo Gebel (cruciate ligament rupture) and Kevin Kampl (personal reasons) on Saturday. Centre-back El-Chadaille Bitshiabu (muscle injury) has been able to complete a large part of full training again. There was also good news recently from former Bayer 04 player Benjamin Henrichs following his Achilles tendon rupture in December 2024, but the game against the Werkself comes too early for him. However, full-back Ridle Baku and centre-forward Romulu are back.

RB Leipzig lost a number of well-known players and a lot of quality in the summer, particularly in attack. Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur) and Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) moved to the Premier League, Lois Openda went on loan to Juventus, club legend Yussuf Poulsen left for Hamburger SV and André Silva now plays for Elche CF in the La Liga. The quintet scored 35 of Leipzig's 53 Bundesliga goals last season. New additions to Leipzig's attack include Yan Diomande (CD Leganes/Spain) and the Dane Conrad Harder, who RB signed from Sporting CP. Both players exemplify the club's personnel policy: young, hungry and capable of development.

Problems

Astonishingly, Leipzig have always lost when they have gone behind this season. The youngest squad in the Bundesliga (average age: 24.68 years) still lacks a certain amount of determination in some situations - such as the recent 3-1 defeat at Union Berlin. Two Union goals were preceded by simple loss of possession by two talented players Kosta Nedeljkovic (19) and Conrad Harder (20). Managing director Marcel Schäfer explained: "Of course we are a young team, and you have to recognise that a young team needs time. But we also have the necessary quality to take three points from Union." Consistency is still lacking at times, however. RB have only won two of their last five Bundesliga matches (two defeats, one draw).

Performers

For long stretches in the first half of the season, RB Leipzig again produced the football that has always characterised the two-time DFB Pokal winners: an active, dominant style of play with high intensity, high pressing and quick transitions. Leipzig are a force at home in particular: Werner's team has won all six home games with a goal difference of 18 to 3. In the top five European leagues, only Barcelona and Leipzig have not dropped a point at home. The Red Bulls have also not conceded a goal in half of their 14 matches to date. RB have conceded a total of 16 goals, making them the third-best defence in the league after Bayern (11) and Borussia Dortmund (12). Like the defence, RB's attack is also the third best in the league with 29 goals. And this despite the summer departures of Xavi, Sesko and co. A large part of the reason why Leipzig are even more goal-orientated than at the same point last season is due to midfielder Christoph Baumgartner. The Austrian is Leipzig's top scorer and provider with twelve goal involvements (six goals, six assists).