RB Leipzig will endeavour to claim their third successive win since the international break when they welcome FC Koln to the Red Bull Arena for a Bundesliga clash on Saturday evening.
While Die Roten Bullen are yet to lose on home soil this season, the visitors are still searching for their first away victory.
Match preview
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RB Leipzig suffered a drop-off in form heading into the international break, albeit playing out a respectable 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich and losing 3-1 to Champions League holders Manchester City before sharing the points in a goalless stalemate with VfL Bochum, but they have since claimed back-to-back wins over SV Darmstadt 98 and Red Star Belgrade.
Indeed, a 3-1 Bundesliga victory away against Darmstadt last weekend was followed just three days later by a win via the same scoreline at home to Red Star, with club-record signing Lois Openda netting four goals across the two fixtures to increase his goal tally for the campaign to seven in 13 games.
Marco Rose's men are on course to secure a top-two finish in Group G of the Champions League, while they find themselves sitting fifth in the Bundesliga table after eight games, three points behind the top four and five points adrift of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Leipzig will welcome a return to the Red Bull Arena this weekend as they are unbeaten in each of their last eight Bundesliga games on home soil, although their last two have ended as draws – not since March/April 2021 have Die Roen Bullen failed to win three successive home league matches.
Success on Saturday is not a given for Rose and co considering that they have drawn three of their last four meetings with Koln, including both home and away encounters last season – a 2-2 draw in Leipzig in August last year was followed by a goalless stalemate in the reverse fixture in February.
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After failing to win each of their opening seven Bundesliga matches and making their joint-worst start to a top-fight campaign, Koln finally opened their account for the new season with a 3-1 home victory over Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend.
Captain Florian Kainz converted two penalties either side of a Nico Elvedi equaliser and the dismissal of Manu Kone, before Luca Waldschmidt sealed the win for the Billy Goats with a 90th-minute strike.
Victory for Steffen Baumgart's side has helped them climb off the foot of the Bundesliga table and up to 16th place, and they could move out of the bottom three if they claim maximum points against Leipzig this weekend.
Success on Saturday could prove challenging for Koln, though, as they have only won two of their last 12 Bundesliga meetings with Leipzig, with a win rate of just 17% their lowest against any team they have faced at least a dozen times in the division.
Goals have been at a premium for Koln so far this season, with only Bochum (six) having made the net ripple on fewer occasions at this stage, while their away form leaves a little to be desired as they have picked up all three points in just three of their last 18 top-flight matches on the road; not since a 2-1 triumph in February 2018 have the Billy Goats beaten Leipzig away from home.
Team News
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Leipzig defender Willi Orban remains sidelined but has begun individual training after sustaining a knee injury on international duty with Hungary earlier this month, and the 30-year-old is joined in the treatment room by El Chadaille Bitshiabu (MCL tear) and Timo Schlieck (knee).
Dani Olmo has made two substitute appearances since recovering from a knee injury, and the playmaker will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI on Saturday ahead of Emil Forsberg.
Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum are expected to retain their places at full-back ahead of Lukas Klostermann and Christopher Lenz, while Openda and Yussuf Poulsen are set to continue their partnership in attack, forcing Timo Werner and Benjamin Sesko to once again watch on as substitutes to begin with.
As for Koln, Baumgart has confirmed that goalkeeper Philipp Pentke is out of hospital after receiving treatment for a knee injury sustained in training, and the 38-year-old will be joined on the sidelines by Jacob Christensen (muscle), Jan Thielmann and Noah Katterbach (both knee).
However, Florian Dietz has gone through a full week of training following a lengthy spell out with an ACL injury, and the forward could be in a position to feature in the matchday squad this weekend.
Kainz, Waldschmidt and Davie Selke are the only three players to have scored for Koln so far this season and the trio are all expected to start on Saturday, with the former operating as the number 10 behind the latter two in attack.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Henrichs, Simakan, Lukeba, Raum; Simons, Kampl, Schlager, Olmo; Openda, Poulsen
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Schwabe; Schmitz, Hubers, Chabot, Paqarada; Martel, Ljubicic; Carstensen, Kainz, Waldschmidt; Selke
We say: RB Leipzig 3-1 FC Koln
Koln's maiden victory last weekend has given them a timely boost heading into a tricky encounter with Leipzig, but the Billy Goats will be regarded as the underdogs on Saturday.
Die Roten Bullen have been frustrated by Koln in recent meetings, but we believe that their in-form attackers will fire them to a comfortable victory this time around.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
