Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 German Bundesliga
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THE FACTS
When is Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig on and what time does it start? Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig will take place on Saturday 19th August, 2023 – 14:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to German Bundesliga matches in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig
Where can I stream Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, Bayer Leverkusen vs RB Leipzig can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Bayer Leverkusen go into the new Bundesliga season hoping for a more sustained run at qualifying for the UEFA Champions League after finishing a whopping 12 points adrift of the top four in 2022-23. Whilst sixth-place gives them Europa League football, head coach Xabi Alonso sets high standards and will demand improvement. However, they’ll have to find a way to cope without Moussa Diaby, who has departed for the English Premier League and Aston Villa. Mitchel Bakker has also been sold to Atalanta of Serie A.
Despite those sales, Leverkusen have reinvested and a number of new faces should get the fans excited for the new campaign. Experienced midfield enforcer Granit Xhaka joins from Arsenal, whilst highly-rated Nigerian forward Victor Boniface has been signed from Union Saint-Gilloise, who impressed so much against Leverkusen in last season’s Europa League quarter-finals. Another catching signing was that of Alex Grimaldo on a free from Benfica as well as Jonas Hofmann, who completed a €10m move from Borussia Monchengladbach.
RB LEIPZIG
RB Leipzig have already laid down a marker ahead of the new Bundesliga season and in some style as well. Marco Rose’s side travelled to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup. Despite all the attention being on the hosts and specifically their new marquee signing Harry Kane, it was RB Leipzig who stole the show, turning over the Rekordmeister and winning by three goals to nil, Spaniard Dani Olmo scoring a hat-trick. It was a perfect display of defensive grit and discipline, combined with ruthless efficiency going forward.
The result was much-needed from an RB Leipzig point of view, if only to reassure themselves that they have what it takes to mount a title challenge this year. Die Roten Bullen have been forced to rebuild having fallen victim to the riches of the Premier League. Left-sided centre-back Josko Gvardiol has left for English and European champions Man City, who paid Leipzig €90m for the Croatian international’s services, whilst Dominik Szoboszlai departed for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in a €70m transfer. Konrad Laimer though has remained in the Bundesliga, joining Bayern on a free transfer. As for Leipzig, most of their big-money shopping has come from Ligue 1, centre-back Castillo Lukeba and Lois Openda joining from Lyon and Lens respectively.
THE TEAM NEWS
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Despite it being the start of the season, Xabi Alonso will have to do without a number of key players, much to his frustration no doubt. The likes of Patrik Schik and Sardar Azmoun are both injured whilst Piero Hincapie and Amine Adli are both serving suspensions. But this does open up opportunities for new players to be brought straight into the fold.
In the absence of Schik, Boniface is expected to make his first Leverkusen start as the central striker, flanked by fellow newbie Hofmann and 20-year-old Florian Wirtz, one of the bright young stars in world football today. Xhaka and Grimaldo will also make their debuts, the former lining in central midfield with the latter on the left-hand-side, the opposite flank to Jeremie Frimpong.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Hradecky; Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Boniface, Wirtz
UNAVAILABLE: Hincapie (Suspended), Adli (Suspended), Azmoun (Injured), Schik (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RB LEIPZIG
The attacking core of Leipzig is expected to look very different come kick off here, with Xavi Simons and Openda both likely to make their debuts. Nicolas Seiwald, signed from sister club RB Salzburg should fill the void left by Laimer, whilst Olmo should play a pivotal role again as the number 10. However, this would leave no place for Swedish international Emil Forsberg.
Long serving first-choice goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi remains absent due to a long-term injury which sidelined him through much of last season and also missing is central midfielder Amadou Haidara, most likely ensuring that Seiwald and Xaver Schlager will be the two chosen to partner up in that area of the pitch.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Blaswich; Henrichs, Simikan, Orban, Raum; Seiwald, Schlager; Simons, Olmo, Werner; Openda
UNAVAILABLE: Gulacsi (Injured), Haidara (Injured), Bitshiabu (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
If RB Leipzip can replicate the gameplan and performance levels that saw them come out on top so emphatically last weekend, then a similar result is not out of the question for Marco Rose’s men. Bayer Leverkusen may not be as slick and as potent as they would normally like to be in front of goal when taking into account the absences of Schik and Azmoun. A lot relies on Hofmann and Boniface hitting the ground running and that won’t be easy for the latter in particular, who is making is first Bundesliga appearance. With that in mind, utilise the draw no bet market to back an RB Leipzig victory.
TIP: RB LEIPZIG DRAW NO BET
