RB Leipzig's quest to qualify for the Champions League continues on Saturday when they travel to play Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei in the Bundesliga.
The home team are fifth last in 14th place with 20 points and were beaten 3-0 by St Pauli on January 26, whereas Leipzig managed to hold champions Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-2 stalemate on January 25 and are fifth with 32 points.
Match preview
© Imago
Union will feel they should have done better to defend against St Pauli's three goals considering the three strikes were all from difficult angles and only totalled 0.34 xG.
Boss Steffen Baumgart should not be overly concerned about the threat of relegation given his side are six points clear of 16th-placed Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation playoff spot, but they do have crucial games coming up against relegation-threatened Hoffenheim and Holstein Kiel in their next five fixtures.
Die Eisernen have only scored 16 times in the Bundesliga this term – the worst return in the top flight – and their lack of goalscoring prowess was on display in their previous clash against RB Leipzig when they drew 0-0 on September 14.
Baumgart will be alarmed by his team's defensive frailty of late, with the club having conceded on 12 occasions in their last four outings, losing three of those matches.
While Union beat Mainz 2-1 on January 19 in their most recent home game, they failed to win their prior five at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, succumbing to defeat twice in that time.
© Imago
Opponents Leipzig had to endure spells of intense pressure against Leverkusen given the champions hit the woodwork three times and created four big chances, relying on an 85th-minute own goal to draw the game 2-2.
Manager Marco Rose is the only coach in the Bundesliga to have beaten Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, and the achievement of taking four points from them should not be understated.
Die Roten Bullen ended their miserable Champions League campaign on Wednesday evening in 32nd place, with a 1-0 loss against Sturm Graz compounding their earlier elimination from the tournament.
Leipzig have struggled defensively for some time, with the club having conceded 20 goals in their last nine outings, including 14 times in their last five in the Bundesliga.
Rose's side are not in strong form considering they have lost two, drawn two and won just one of their five most recent fixtures, and they have failed to triumph in any of their past three in the top flight.
The visitors' record on the road is concerning given they have succumbed to defeat in seven of their last nine games away from home, only winning on one occasion.
Team News
© Imago
Though Union will be without suspended centre-back Leopold Querfeld and injured striker Andrej Ilic, the duo are the hosts' only confirmed absentees.
Danilho Doekhi, Kevin Vogt and Diogo Leite have been regularly selected in a back three, and they may be tasked with protecting goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow.
Jordan Siebatcheu and Benedict Hollerbach could start in the forward line, and they may be supported by wing-backs Josip Juranovic and Robert Skov.
Leipzig are dealing with injuries to midfielders Forzan Assan Ouedraogo, Kevin Kampl and Xaver Schlager, so expect Arthur Vermeeren and Amadou Haidara to partner each other in the centre of the pitch.
Full-back Benjamin Henrichs has been ruled out for the rest of the season as a result of an Achilles tendon injury, and his absence could mean that David Raum and Lukas Klosterman are chosen to play in a back four.
Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda are almost certain to start in a front two, especially as forward Andre Silva is unavailable due to injury.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Juranovic, Haberer, Khedira, Kemlein, Skov; Jordan, Hollerbach
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum; Nusa, Vermeeren, Haidara, Simons; Openda, Sesko
We say: Union Berlin 1-3 RB Leipzig
Given that both sides have been vulnerable defensively in recent weeks, fans can expect an entertaining clash.
While Union will be looking to capitalise on Leipzig's poor form, they have not shown that they are able to reliably convert chances into goals, and it would not be surprising if the visitors were more clinical in the final third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
