RB Leipzig will be looking for their first win of the new season when they welcome Wolfsburg to Red Bull Arena this Saturday.
Venue: Red Bull Arena (Leipzig)
Key Statistics
RB Leipzig have scored 2+ goals in six of their last ten home matches.
Leipzig have won 11 of their last 20 matches.
The Red Bulls have only won two of their last six home league fixtures (D3, L1)
Wolfsburg have failed to win any of their last four league matches
They have lost six of their past ten away matches
Wolfsburg have conceded 2+ goals in six of their last ten away matches.
Timo Werner has six goals and four assists from his 15 competitive outings against the Wolves.
By contrast, Nkunku is yet to register a goal or assist in his six Bundesliga contests against Wolfsburg to date.
Head to head
Wolfsburg have won two of their ten visits to Leipzig (Bundesliga and DFB Cup), drawing two and losing six. They are winless in their last seven trips, however.
Latest performances in all competitions
RB Leipzig: L-D-D-L-L
Wolfsburg: D-D-D-W-W
RB Leipzig
Leipzig’s woeful start to the season continued last weekend as they were beaten 2-1 by Union Berlin courtesy of goals from Theoson Siebatcheu and Sheraldo Becker, despite a late consolation from Willi Orban.
The loss to Berlin means that the hosts have failed to win any of their first four competitive games of the season (D2, L2) for the first time since they were founded in 2009.
For a team that is targeting to compete with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich as Bundesliga’s most consistent team, two points from three games represent a very poor return.
If, as returnee forward Timo Werner said before the Union game, they’re to become a “nuisance” to the established duo, they’ll need to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.
But even their recent form at the Red Bull Arena doesn’t offer much solace, as they have only won two of their last six home league fixtures (D3, L1). However, at least they haven’t lost a home to Wolfsburg since March 2017 (W5, D2). With fans expecting them to justify their tag as favourites against a Wolfsburg side still trying to win their first league game of the season, the pressure is mounting on manager Domenico Tedesco.
Possible Leipzig starting line-up
Janis Blaswich; Mohamed Simakan, Willi Orban, jesko Gvardiol; Benjamin Henrichs, Konrad Laimer, Dani Olmo, Kevin Kampl, David Raum; Christopher Nkunku, Timo Werner
Injured: Yussuf Poulsen, Lukas Klostermann
Doubtful: Péter Gulácsi
Suspended: None
Wolfsburg
Like their hosts, Wolfsburg have also endured a poor start to the season.
The visitors have drawn two and lost one of their opening three league games of the season. Their most recent outing was a goalless draw with newly-promoted Schalke 04, a game that was decided by the heroics of goalkeeper Koen Casteels who saved a penalty in the game.
For a team that won their first three games of last season, their start to this campaign will be a worry for Wolves fans who are eager for their team to rerun to the heights of yesteryears when they were competing for a place in Europa.
To improve on their 12th-place finish last year, Niko Kovac’s side must have to improve on their away form. The visitors have won just one of their last seven Bundesliga away games (D2, L4) and so will have to be in their best shape to earn a positive result in this game.
Possible Wolfsburg starting line-up
Koen Casteels; Sabastiaan Bornauw, Maxence Lacroix, Micky van de Ven; Ridle Baku, Maximilian Arnold, Mattias Svanberg, Maximilian Arnold, Paulo Otavi; Omar Marmoush; Lukas Nmecha.
Injured: Jonas Wind, Yannick Gerhardt
Doubtful: Kilian Fischer
Suspended: None
Prediction
RB Leipzig 2-1 Wolfsbrug
