RB Leipzig vs Hertha BSC

Underperforming RB Leipzig will be desperate to get their Bundesliga campaign on the upward trajectory when they take on an improving Hertha BSC side at the Red Bull Arena.

Despite coming from behind to held Cologne to a 1-1 away draw last time out, Leipzig are off to their worst-ever Bundesliga start, having won just one of their opening five league fixtures (D1, L3). Jesse Marsch, who replaced departed Julian Nagelsmann in the summer, has come under heavy scrutiny as ‘Die Roten Bullen’ head into proceedings harboring a slender one-point lead on relegation-threatened Bochum. Hertha’s arrival at the Red Bull Arena look to be a godsend, with Leipzig going unbeaten in their last seven top-flight H2Hs (W6, D1) whilst winning both last season’s league duels by an aggregate score of 5-1. Having scored in all ten Bundesliga meetings with this opposition, Leipzig will be looking to improve their underwhelming 1.2 goals scored on average per league game this season.

Meanwhile, the visitors seem to have managed to put their disastrous three-game losing start to this Bundesliga campaign, as they enter this round on the back of two consecutive league victories by an aggregate score of 5-2. Hertha could win three top-flight matches on the spin for the first time since October 2019, though they’ll need to step up their defensive showings to make it happen. Indeed, ‘Die Alte Dame’ have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous 11 Bundesliga outings away from home, last enduring a longer such streak between April 2010 and March 2012 (16). Particularly vulnerable in the second half, Pal Dardai’s men have registered a clear majority (75%) of their overall Bundesliga goals conceded this season beyond half-time (9/12).