RB Leipzig will look to build on the win in their last league outing when they go up against VfL Wolfsburg, who will be aiming to bring an end to their four-match winless run in the Bundesliga.
The home team are 12th on the table with 38 points in their 28 outings. Die Wolfe have been far from their best, and they would certainly like to finish the season on a high. They are 16 points clear of the drop zone with only a handful of games to go.
Their major concern should be their current form as Wolfsburg have lost each of their last three league games with a scoreline of 1-0. Their last outing was against Union Berlin. Wolfsburg had more of the ball but still couldn’t make it count.
The visitors are fifth on the table with 45 points in their 28 outings. Die Roten Bullen are pushing for a top-four finish, and they are just a point behind fourth-placed FSV Mainz. With just six games to go, Leipzig will be eager to ensure they finish in a Champions League spot.
While the visitors have not been at their best in recent weeks, Leipzig did secure a 3-1 win over Hoffenheim last time out. They have enough quality in their squad to build on that result against Wolfsburg. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Ralph Hasenhuttl will be without the services of Bartosz Bialek, Lovro Majer, Mattias Svanberg, Denis Vavro, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Niklas Klinger, and Konstantinos Koulierakis.
The home team will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Kamil Grabara will start in goal. The back three will be made up of Kilian Fischer, David Odogu and Yannick Gerhardt.
Jakub Kaminski and Joakim Maehle will feature as the wing-backs, while Aster Vranckx and Maximilian Arnold will feature as the two central midfielders. They will look to ensure Leipzig midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Jonas Wind and Patrick Wimmer will be the attacking midfielders behind Mohamed El Amine Amoura, who will lead the line for Wolfsburg against RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Grabara; Fischer, Odogu, Gerhardt; Kaminski, Vranckx, Arnold, Maehle; Wind, Wimmer; Amoura
The visitors will be without the services of Antonio Nusa, Benjamin Henrichs, Forzan Assan Ouedraogo, and Xaver Schlager.
Against VfL Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Peter Gulacsi should continue in goal. Kosta Nedeljkovic and David Raum will feature as the full-backs, while Castello Lukeba should partner Willi Orban in the heart of the defence.
Ridle Baku and Xavi Simons will feature on the flanks in midfield. They will look to support the full-backs and, at the same time, provide width to their attacks. In the centre of the park, Arthur Vermeeren should partner with Nicolas Seiwald. The duo will look to control the tempo of the game. Benjamin Sesko will partner Lois Openda up front, forming Leipzig’s attacking duo.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Nedeljkovic, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Baku, Vermeeren, Seiwald, Xavi; Sesko, Openda
The 25-year-old Belgian striker is enjoying yet another impressive season at the German club. Openda has been involved in a total of 39 matches, and has contributed towards 22 goals (12 goals, 10 assists).
Openda was on fire in the first half of the season, but things have not been that great for him in the second half, as he only has three goal contributions in his last 11 league outings. He will certainly be eager to finish the season on a high.
VfL Wolfsburg have been far from convincing in recent weeks, struggling to find the back of the net and falling to three consecutive 1-0 defeats. While RB Leipzig’s away form has been a concern, their recent win over Hoffenheim could be a turning point as they push for a top-four finish.
With more quality and motivation on their side, Zsolt Low’s men should have enough to edge this one. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the away team.
