With the club at risk of failing to qualify for the Champions League, RB Leipzig will have to win on Saturday against visiting Bundesliga opponents Hoffenheim at Red Bull Arena.
Die Roten Bullen have fallen to sixth place, and their points tally of 42 is three fewer than fourth-placed Mainz 05 with just seven matchweeks remaining, while Hoffenheim are fifth last in 14th place with 27 points following their 1-1 draw with Augsburg on March 29.
Match preview
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Leipzig sacked boss Marco Rose following the club’s 1-0 defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach last Saturday, appointing Zsolt Low as interim manager.
The hosts failed to create a single big chance against Borussia Monchengladbach and have in fact failed to score in four of their past eight in the Bundesliga.
To their credit, Die Roten Bullen did keep four clean sheets in those eight matches, but their limited attacking threat is concerning given their return of 41 goals in the top flight is the third-worst record in the top 12.
Low took charge of the team for their fixture against Stuttgart in the semi-final of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, but his side were beaten 3-1 despite producing 25 shots, 16 more than the victors.
Leipzig’s form heading into Saturday’s match is poor considering they have only triumphed three of their last 12 games, succumbing to defeat on four occasions.
However, Die Roten Bullen’s record at Red Bull Arena is strong given they have won six, drawn two and lost just one of their past nine home outings.
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Opponents Hoffenheim were fortunate that they were awarded a penalty in the final 20 minutes to equalise against Augsburg given they otherwise created few chances of note, with their spot kick their only shot on target.
Die Kraichgauer have scored just four goals in their past five matches, though they only conceded four times in that period.
The visitors managed to beat Leipzig 4-3 in the league on November 23, a game in which they recovered from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to win against their hosts for the first time in seven matches having lost on five occasions in that time.
Boss Christian Ilzer has overseen two draws and a defeat in his team’s three most recent outings, but it should be noted that they have only lost once in their past six, winning twice.
Hoffenheim have also emerged victorious in four of their last six away fixtures – losing the other two – and scored 12 goals in those games.
Team News
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Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is available for selection following a bout of illness, but defender Benjamin Henrichs is not scheduled to return until late May.
Ridle Baku, Willi Orban, El Chadaille Bitshiabu and David Raum are candidates to play in defence behind a double pivot of Nicolas Seiwald and Arthur Vermeeren.
However, midfielders Forzan Assan Ouedraogo, Kevin Kampl and Xaver Schlager will not be part of the starting XI, while forward Antonio Nusa has also been ruled out.
Usual strikers Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda are certain to feature up front, while Xavi Simons and Christoph Baumgartner may play in supportive roles.
As for Hoffenheim, they will be without centre-backs Ozan Kabak and Christopher Lenz, and their absences will likely lead to the selection of Arthur Chaves and Leo Ostigard in the heart of defence.
Anton Stach and Tom Bischof have often appeared together in midfield, and given the injuries to Grischa Promel, Diadie Samassekou and Alexander Prass, they may be chosen once again.
Elsewhere, forwards Max Moerstedt, Ihlas Bebou and Adam Hlozek are unavailable, so expect striker Gift Orban to play alongside attackers Bazoumana Toure, Andrej Kramaric and Marius Bulter.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum; Baumgartner, Vermeeren, Seiwald, Xavi; Sesko, Openda
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kaderabek, Chaves, Ostigard, Jurasek; Stach, Bischof; Toure, Kramaric, Bulter; Orban
We say: RB Leipzig 1-2 Hoffenheim
Leipzig’s confidence is likely to be low following the dismissal of Rose and their loss in the DFB-Pokal semi-final.
Additionally, considering Hoffenheim’s strong away record, the visitors may emerge as victors against their struggling hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
