RB Leipzig welcome Young Boys to the Red Bull Arena in Germany for their final Champions League Group G fixture on Wednesday night.
The two teams lock horns for the first time since matchday one in September when Die Roten Bullen secured a 3-1 victory in Switzerland – the only previous meeting between the two clubs.
Match preview
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Leipzig enter their final group-stage match having already qualified for the last 16 after accumulating nine points from their first five fixtures, but they missed the chance to secure top spot in Group G after losing 3-2 to Champions League holders Manchester City two weeks ago.
Despite boasting a surprise two-goal lead at half time at the Etihad Stadium, the Citizens fought back to turn the game on its head after the break, meaning that Marco Rose's men are guaranteed to finish second in Group G.
Leipzig have since won back-to-back games in the Bundesliga, with a 2-1 home victory over Heidenheim followed by last weekend's 3-2 away triumph against 10-man Borussia Dortmund, courtesy of an own goal from Ramy Bensebaini as well as strikes from Christoph Baumgartner and Yussuf Poulsen.
Rose's side remain fourth in the Bundesliga table but have moved four points clear of Dortmund in fifth place, while they also capitalised on Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen dropping points and have moved to within seven points of the latter at the summit.
Leipzig, who have won on matchday six of the Champions League in each of the last three years under three different managers, will fancy their chances of beating Young Boys and ending the group stage on a high once again on Wednesday, as they have won eight of their last 13 Champions League home games as well as each of their last four in all tournaments by an aggregate score of 14-3.
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Competing in the Champions League for just the third time in their history, Young Boys will once again bow out at the group stage, but this season they have secured third spot for the first time after beating Red Star Belgrade 2-0 on matchday five a fortnight ago.
An early own goal from Kosta Nedeljkovic was followed by a strike from Lewin Blum, his first of the season, and the Yellow-Blacks held on to claim maximum points to ensure that they drop down to the Europa League playoff round, with Red Star forced to settle for last place in Group G.
Raphael Wicky's side have since picked up seven points from a possible nine available across three home fixtures in the Swiss Super League, with a 1-1 draw versus Servette followed by 1-0 and 3-0 wins over Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy and St Gallen respectively, beating the latter last weekend.
Jean-Pierre Nsame netted three times across the last two games to increase his goal tally in all competitions to 12, as well as help Young Boys move four points clear at the top of the table, although FC Zurich in second do have a game in hand.
While Young Boys have enjoyed their recent run of home fixtures, their away form leaves little to be desired as they enter Wednesday's trip to Leipzig seeking to avoid a third successive away loss in all competitions. The Yellow-Blacks, who have won just one of their last five European visits to Germany, have also failed to win any of their previous eight Champions League matches on the road.
Team News
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Leipzig trio Dani Olmo (shoulder), Willi Orban and El Chadaille Bitshiabu (both knee) all remain long-term absentees due to injury, while Timo Werner has missed the last four matches with a groin problem and is unlikely to return on Wednesday.
Rose will be tempted to make changes to his starting lineup having already seen his side qualify for the last 16, so goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi – who has started just twice in the DFB-Pokal this season since recovering from a serious knee injury – could be selected ahead of Janis Blaswich.
The likes of Christopher Lenz, Nicolas Seiwald, Kevin Kampl, Emil Forsberg and Benjamin Sesko will also be hoping to force their way into the first XI after beginning as substitutes last weekend.
As for Young Boys, Kastriot Imeri is ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, while Cedric Itten (leg) and Malik Deme (hip) are targeting a return to action in January.
Mohamed Camara is expected to replace Aurele Amenda in central defence and join Blum, Loris Benito and Ulisses Garcia in the back four, while Anthony Racioppi will likely return between the sticks at the expense of David von Ballmoos.
Darian Males and Joel Monteiro could operate on the flanks either side of midfield duo Filip Ugrinic and Cheikh Niasse, while Nsame – who is yet to score in the Champions League this term – should retain his place in attack alongside Meschack Elia, who scored against Leipzig in the reverse fixture.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Henrichs, Simakan, Lukeba, Lenz; Seiwald, Kampl; Baumgartner, Forsberg; Poulsen, Sesko
Young Boys possible starting lineup:
Racioppi; Blum, Camara, Benito, Garcia; Males, Niasse, Ugrinic, Monteiro; Elia, Nsame
We say: RB Leipzig 3-1 Young Boys
Both teams are merely playing for pride in this fixture, but they will be keen to end the group stage on a high, with Young Boys seeking revenge following their loss to Leipzig in the reverse fixture.
Seven of Leipzig's last eight home wins in the Champions League have seen both teams score, and we believe that the German hosts will outscore their opponents once again, even if Rose decides to make several changes to his lineup.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
