Leipzig eye history against Bayer
Berlin, Nov. 17: RB Leipzig can claim a milestone in their fledgling history on Friday by taking a point at Bayer Leverkusen to knock Bayern Munich from the top of the Bundesliga table.
“We definitely want to take something there and remain unbeaten. If there is a point available, then there will also be three,” said Leipzig’s coach Ralph Hasenhuettl ahead of the clash at Leverkusen’s BayArena.
Second-placed Leipzig can become the first club to go 11 games unbeaten at the start of their first German league season if they avoid defeat.
Ahead of the weekend’s matches, both Bayern and Leipzig, who have earned four promotions in seven years, have 24 league points.
A draw or win would see Leipzig top the table, at least overnight, ahead of Bayern, who are at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening in the battle of Germany’s top clubs — dubbed ‘Der Klassiker’.
Leipzig have question marks over top-scorer Timo Werner (upset stomach), who has five goals in ten league games, and teenage Scotland winger Oliver Burke (virus).
Following their 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago, Leverkusen are on course for the last-16 in Europe.
Bayer, who are eighth in the table, need a win to warm-up for Tuesday’s Champions League group stage match at CSKA Moscow, but their coach Roger Schmidt says Leipzig have proved they deserve respect.
Leverkusen had hoped to have midfield hard-man Charles Aranguiz, but the Chile international picked up an injury in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
Captain Lars Bender, also a candidate for the defensive midfield, has not trained for two weeks with a heel injury.
Kevin Kampl (bruised foot), Omer Toprak (thigh), Joel Pohjanpalo (foot fracture) and Vladlen Yurchenko (hairline shin fracture) are all out.