Buoyant Leipzig chase historic maiden away win at Bayern
BERLIN: RB Leipzig will be looking for a first away win at Bayern Munich in Saturday’s top-of-thetable league showdown ater being buoyed by their last-gasp 4-3 win at Basaksehir Istanbul in the Champions League on Wednesday .
Second-placed Leipzig are eyeing triumph at the imposing Allianz Arena, where Bundesliga leaders Bayern have not lost for a year in any competition. Bayern hold a two-point gap over Leipzig in the league.
“It’s going to be an awesome game,” prophesied midfielder Emil Forsberg, “we want to take something from there.”
Since reaching the Bundesliga in 2016/17 ater rising from Germany’s fith tier, Leipzig have beaten Bayern once in 10 games and never away. The last three league meetings all ended in draws.
“I can’t remember the last time we drew three times in a row against a Bundesliga side - that’s proof that it won’t be easy for us,” said Bayern chairman Karl-heinz Rummenigge.
On their last four visits to the Allianz Arena, Leipzig lost 3-0, 2-0, 1-0 and then held Bayern to a goalless draw in February.
Having already won 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund in last month’s top-of-the-table clash, Bayern have a chance to see off another rival.
Captain Manuel Neuer and striker Robert Lewandowski were rested for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid with Bayern already through to the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners.
However, Nagelsmann is unhappy that there is barely a three-day gap between facing Bayern and Man Utd, “at some point it will catch up with us”.
Borussia Dortmund are already feeling the effects of a constant stream of fixtures ahead of Saturday’s away match at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ater last weekend’s shock 2-1 home defeat loss to Cologne, Dortmund need to bounce back with a first win in Frankfurt for seven years.
Dortmund trail Bayern by four points in the table and expect star striker Erling Braut Haaland to be sidelined until January with a leg injury.
On Sunday, third-placed Bayer Leverkusen can inflict more misery on botom side Schalke who are on a 25 match winless streak, inching towards the league record of 31 games without a win.
German League fixtures (all times 1430GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Frei bur g vs bo russia mo en chen glad bach, Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund, Cologne vs VFL Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld vs Mainz 05, Bayern München vs RB Leipzig (1730); Sunday: Werder Bremen vs VFB Stutgart, Schalke 04 vs Bayer Leverkusen (1700); Monday: Hoffenheim vs Augsburg (1930)