RB Leipzig will begin their 2022/23 Bundesliga season at the Mercedes-Benz Arena where they are set to play Stuttgart.
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena (Stuttgart)
Key Statistics
VfB Stuttgart lost just one of six Bundesliga games last season involving a goal from top scorer Kalajdzic.
Stuttgart are the only Bundesliga team Leipzig have faced eight times without losing (W7, D1).
VfB Stuttgart have scored two or more goals in five of their past ten home matches
RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku has scored in 11 of his 17 Bundesliga appearances this calendar year.
Leipzig were the best team in the second half of the 2021/22 season as they got 36 points from 18 games.
The Red Bulls have claimed 40 points in 20 games under Tedesco. Only Bayern have amassed more in that time (43 points).
Head to head
RB Leipzig have been dominant in this fixture, as Stuttgart are the only Bundesliga team they have faced eight times without losing (W7, D1).
Latest performances in all competitions
Stuttgart: W-W-W-W-W
RB Leipzig: L-L-W-W-D
VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart will look to begin the new season on a high note when they welcome current DFB Pokal holders RB Leipzig to the Mercedes Benz Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts will consider themselves lucky to be in the Bundesliga this season, after securing their top-flight status via a dramatic injury-time winner on last season’s final matchday.
They have already enjoyed a positive start to the season as they come into this game on the back of a 1-0 win over Markus Anfang’s Dynamo Dresden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. The win was secured courtesy of a first-half goal from Macedonian winger Darko Churlinov.
And so, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side will be looking to make it two wins in two competitive games this season. A win will also extend their winning run to seven games, given that they won all of their pre-season-friendly games.
Meanwhile, manager Matarazzo will be unable to call upon the services of Croatian left-back Borna Sosa, while Australian attacker Alou Kuol is suspended.
There are doubts over the availability of Austrian striker Sasa Kalajdzic, French winger Tanguy Coulibaly, Danish midfielder Nikolas Nartey, and midfielder Atakan Karazor.
Possible Stuttgart starting line-up
Florian Muller, Josha Vagnoman, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Hiroki Ito, Pascal Stenzel, Naouirou Ahamada, Wataru Endo, Enzo Millot, Silas Katompa Mvumpa, Juan Jose Perea, Darko Churlinov.
Injured: Borna Sosa
Doubtful: Nikolas Nartey, Sasa Kalajdzic, Tanguy Coulibaly, Atakan Karazor
Suspended: Alou Kuol
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup when they travel to Stuttgart on Sunday.
The visitors were beaten 5-3 by the Bundesliga champions, as they conceded three goals in the first half. But they would be proud of their second-half performance which saw them score three times and cause Bayern some problems.
After finishing fourth on the Bundesliga standings last season due to a poor start under Jesse Marsch, they will be desperate to hit the ground running this season to avoid being left behind early in the race for the top four.
However, it could be a tricky few months for boss Domenico Tedesco who has lost some of his key layers this summer. Tyler Adams and Nordi Mukiele have left to Leeds and PSG respectively, with the latter’s departure perhaps explaining Leipzig’s struggles in defence against Bayern.
Despite their losses, the visitors will be happy that they were able to retain the services of hot-shot striker Christopher Nkunku. The reigning Bundesliga Player of the season was on the score sheet against Bayern last weekend and will be key to Leipzig’s chances of fighting for the title this season.
Possible RB Leipzig starting line-up
Peter Gulacsi, Mohamed Simakan, Willi Orban, Marcel Halstenberg, Lukas Klostermann, Konrad Laimer, Xaver Schlager, Benjamin Henrichs, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andre Silva, Christopher Nkunku
Injured: Yussuf Poulsen
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Stuttgart 1-3 RB Leipzig
