Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Bundesliga clash between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Gameweek 31 in the Bundesliga pits fourth against fifth when RB Leipzig host Borussia Dortmund at Red Bull Arena.
Marco Rose‘s troops have enjoyed a commendable streak against Edin Terzic‘s side, and the Red Bulls hope to do the double over BVB to all but seal fourth place in the German top division.
Match preview
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Saturday’s encounter could have been a straight shootout for fourth in the Bundesliga, but quarter-final events in Europe — England producing no Champions League or Europa League semi-finalist since 2014-15 and German sides producing three semi-finalists across both competitions — mean there is significantly less jeopardy for Leipzig or BVB.
While Germany are not assured of that extra Champions League spot, Rose’s side are two points clear of this weekend’s opponents and will relish the possibility of extending to five with three gameweeks remaining.
Die Roten Bullen have reason to be optimistic, having secured three consecutive wins in the league to extend the club’s undefeated run in all competitions — eight, winning six times — and their excellent run in Saxony.
Since losing back-to-back home matches to Eintracht Frankfurt (1-0) and Bayer Leverkusen (3-2) in January, Leipzig have notched five clean sheets on home turf, winning all but one — a goalless game with Mainz on March 30 — to tighten their grip on fourth spot.
It remains to be seen if they prevent a sixth opponent from scoring against them this weekend, even if avoiding defeat will benefit Rose’s team, seeking Champions League participation in 2024-25.
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As for Dortmund, this match would have been make-or-break a few weeks back. However, progressing to a semi-final in Europe’s top-tier club competition for the first time since 2012-13, Germany almost assured of an extra spot, and the prospect of another significant final has uplifted everyone in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Die Borussen nearly became the first side to defeat Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen this season, but a 97th-minute Josip Stanisic leveller cancelled Niclas Fullkrug‘s goal in the final minutes of the 90.
While that point extended Dortmund’s unbeaten run against Leverkusen to four, they seek to end their recent dreadful results against Leipzig, underscored by five losses in six in all competitions.
Four of those five defeats have been in the Bundesliga, highlighting the recent inferiority of last year’s runners-up in this fixture.
Nevertheless, an unbeaten away run since losing 2-1 at Stuttgart in November 2023 (winning six of 10) and claiming four victories on the trot should give travelling fans hope of making that five road wins in succession this weekend.
RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:
Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:
Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):
Team News
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Lois Openda (23 goals) has outscored every teammate at Leipzig this term, and the Belgian should be supported by Benjamin Sesko, who opened the scoring at Heidenheim last weekend to notch his 10th league goal.
Yussuf Poulsen (muscle) and Christopher Lenz (calf) are not expected to play for the hosts on Saturday.
Emre Can and Ian Maatsen are suspended for BVB’s visit to the Red Bull Arena, giving them ample rest before next week’s PSG test.
Ramy Bensebaini and Sebastien Haller are not expected to partake due to knee injuries, but Donyell Malen (knee) is touch-and-go.
Fullkrug’s next Bundesliga goal takes Der BVB’s leading scorer in the competition to 13.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Henrichs, Orban, Castello, Raum; Olmo, Haidara, Schlager, Simons; Openda, Sesko
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson; Sabitzer, Ozcan; Sancho, Brandt, Adeyemi; Fullkrug
We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Even though Saturday’s game ideally should be tricky to call because of Leipzig’s recent outstanding run on home turf and Dortmund losing one on the road all season, BVB possibly having an eye on their first Champions League semi-final in 11 years could mean Rose’s troops nick maximum points to complete the double over Die Borussen this term.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.