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RB Leipzig travel to Borussia Dortmund searching for a fifth consecutive Bundesliga victory, whilst the hosts have dropped out of the top six following defeat last weekend at Augsburg.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday November 2nd 2024: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 1:30pm / US PT – 10:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
BORUSSIA DORTMUND PREVIEW: AWAY STRUGGLES CONTINUE FOR SAHIN
In the space of just three days, Borussia Dortmund have fallen to both their fourth and fifth away defeats this season across all competitions. It began last Saturday as they fell 2-1 to Augsburg despite taking the lead early on. Nuri Sahin’s men finished that game with ten men following the sending off of Almugera Kabar.
Three days later, Dortmund were back in action, this time in the DFB-Pokal where once again they were left wanting on the road. Drawing blanks in front of goal against Wolfsburg, BVB were punished late on at the other end as the hosts forced home a 117th minute winner.
RB LEIPZIG PREVIEW: THREE POINTS NEEDED TO KEEP TRACK WITH BAYERN
RB Leipzig have reason to believe that they really can sustain a title challenge in 2024-25 as they continue to win in the Bundesliga. It’s now four league victories in a row for second-placed Leipzig, the most recent of those coming against Freiburg in a 3-1 win at the Red Bull Arena which saw the home side roar back after trailing at half-time.
There was further good news for RB Leipzig in the week as they safely progressed through to the next round of the DFB-Pokal. Although St. Pauli put up a fight and made things interesting on more than one occasion, Leipzig prevailed by four goals to two.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND TEAM NEWS: DOUBTS OVER ANTON AND RYERSON
After missing the cup defeat in midweek, Nuri Sahin faces a nervous wait over whether both Anton and Ryerson will be fit to play here. Should the pair be available, both Emre Can and Pascal Gross may move into central midfield together.
PREDICTED XI: (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Gross; Malen, Sabitzer, Gittens; Guirassy
UNAVAILABLE: Adeyemi (Injured), Kabar (Suspended), Sule (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Anton (Injured), Ryerson (Injured)
RB LEIPZIG TEAM NEWS: SAME XI AS LAST WEEKEND EXPECTED WITH SIMONS STILL OUT
Due to David Raum, Xavi Schlager and most notably Xavi Simons all still missing through injury, Marco Rose is expected to name an unchanged starting line-up from the win over Freiburg with those rested in midweek coming back into the XI.
PREDICTED XI: (4-2-2-2): Gulacsi; Geertruida, Orban, Lukeba, Henrichs; Haidara, Kampl; Nusa, Baumgartner; Sesko, Openda
UNAVAILABLE: Raum (Injured), Schlager (Injured), Simons (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS RB LEIPZIG PREDICTION
This has to be seen as a big chance for RB Leipzig to make a real statement in the title race. Whilst their form in Europe has been poor, domestically they’ve been excellent with five straight wins in league and cup. The opposite can be said of Borussia Dortmund, whose 100% record in the Champions League is tempered by a patch start in the Bundesliga. Sahin’s inexperience has shown at times and Marco Rose is a canny operator. It would be no surprise to see Leipzig get something from this game and they should be backed to do so via the double chance market.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS RB LEIPZIG TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE - DRAW/RB LEIPZIG