RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich

Arguably the most exciting match-up on this weekend’s Bundesliga schedule pits RB Leipzig against reigning champions Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Arena.

Leipzig’s hopes of lifting their first-ever Bundesliga crown are fading away as they head into proceedings having lost two of their opening three top-flight matches (W1). Scoring first could be paramount here, given that each of Leipzig’s three league games won/lost so far this term saw the winner on the day keep a clean sheet. New manager Jesse Marsch faces a daunting prospect of extending his side’s four-match unbeaten home streak in the Bundesliga (W2, D2) against his predecessor Julian Naglesmann and ex-Leipzig stars Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer. Despite losing five straight away Bundesliga outings, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ have been a force to be reckoned with at home, going undefeated in nine of their last ten top-flight fixtures at the Red Bull Arena (W6, D3). Worryingly, though, the solitary reverse in that run came at the hands of Bayern.

Seeking back-to-back away Bundesliga wins over Leipzig, Naglesmann’s Bayern Munich side won consecutive top-flight outings by an aggregate score of 8-2 since playing out a 1-1 away draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on Matchday 1. An emphatic 5-0 victory over underperforming Hertha BSC last time out means the perennial German champions have netted a resounding average of 2.95 goals per game across their last 20 Bundesliga fixtures. However, the visitors are winless in three Bundesliga travels on the trot (D2, L1), their longest run without a triumph away from home since 2011/12 (four matches). Moreover, they’ve netted under 1.5 goals in each of their last four league trips to Leipzig (W1, D2, L1). Yet, Bayern can draw courage from clocking up a four-game winning streak in all competitions ahead of the kick-off, returning an intimidating +20 goal difference for their troubles (GF:23, GA:3).