LOOK AHEAD: RB Leipzig

It’s another week with midweek fixtures – this time with three home matches in a row! For the first Bundesliga game we welcome RB Leipzig. According to head coach, Thomas Reis, the Saxons belong to Germany’s big three. Here’s the LOOK AHEAD on Leipzig:

THE TEAM

Leipzig have gotten into their stride. And by no means that is not only linked to their recent 6-1 win over Hertha BSC. Under their new head coach Domenico Tedesco RB managed to stabilise and climb up the table. The Saxon side is currently ranking fourth, another Champions League qualification is therefore within their grasp. Actually it has not always been like that during this season. After half of the fixtures had been played they were only one point ahead of VfL – which was because of their lacking consistancy in the first half of the campaign. Seven defeats after 17 matches – that was quite new in Leipzig‘s Bundesliga history. New signing André Silva, who was Frankfurt’s leading scorer in the previous season, had some initial difficulties. Other transfers like Brobbey (who meanwhile joined Ajax Amsterdam again) or Ilaix Moriba (now Valencia) fell short of expectations. Danny Olmo was sidelined for quite some time after an intense summer and participation at the Olympic Games. So it was up to Christopher Nkunku to help his club achieving the targeted aims – and he did well. 13 goals (two of them in the first match against VfL), 10 assists. A brilliant season so far by the Frenchman who also scored numerous goals in the European competitions.

THE HEAD COACH

He’s only 36 years old and Leipzig is already his fourth club in professional football. Domenico Tedesco has experienced a distinguished carreer. He started off in Aue, where he finally saved the club from being relegated to the third league. Promptly, the native of Italy was headhunted by FC Schalke 04. In that time the team from the city of Gelsenkirchen became runners-up and reached the last 16 round in the UEFA Champions League. After Spartak Moskau he took the next step and signed for Leipzig. Seems like a perfect decision for both sides: Tedesco manages one of the most ambitious clubs in the Bundesliga, since he took over the Saxons have become a stable team and are straight heading for the international spots.

THE RECORD

There have been only six clashes so far between VfL and RB Leipzig who were founded just in 2009. The record is quite depressing from Bochum’s point of view as the Saxons won all six games. Something that might bolster up the lads: It’s the first time VfL welcome the “Red Bulls“ at home in the Bundesliga. Back in October 2015 the lads fell against Leipzig 1-0 in the 2nd Bundesliga, but the game was pretty close, when Marcel Sabitzer was able to score the winner not before the middle of the second half. No disgrace for VfL since RB were finally promoted as runners-up that very season. Bochum finished on a reasonable fifth place.