Prediction: RB Leipzig vs Borussia Dortmund

Verdict: RB Leipzig win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Luckster

In what looks set to be a season-defining showdown on Saturday afternoon, RB Leipzig will welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Red Bull Arena.

RB Leipzig

Starting with the hosts, while RB Leipzig might have watched their Champions League adventure come to an end at the hands of Spanish icons Real Madrid back in February, Marco Rose’s side are enjoying a stunning domestic romp. Last seen collecting a 2-1 victory away at Heidenheim, the Red Bulls are riding a major wave of momentum. Opening April with a 4-1 romp against Freiburg, the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss will be desperate to get one over on his former employers here. In fact, including a 3-0 victory against Wolfsburg earlier in the month, Leipzig have collected 19 points from their previous seven Bundesliga appearances. Gaining a reputation for their clinical performances in the final third, Saturday’s hosts are sat in the driving seat to clinch another Champions League ticket this season. Likewise, it should also be noted that Rose’s side have registered 13 points from their last five showdowns in front of their own supporters.

Team News

Dealing with a recent muscle injury and not making a single Bundesliga appearance so far this months, Denmark international Yussuf Poulsen is not expected to feature on Saturday afternoon. However, Rose’s side have no fresh injury concerns or suspensions to worrying about here.

Forming what has been a clinical partnership this season and both attracting plenty of Premier League interest ahead of the summer transfer window, the duo of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda will spearhead Rose’s charge here. Making a full return following a one-match suspension last week, 26-year-old will keep his spot at led-back.

Borussia Dortmund

As for the visitors, mounting a famous champions League comeback against Atletico Madrid earlier in the month as they punched a semi-final ticket, the mood in Borussia Dortmund’s camp should be at a real high. Last seen snatching a 1-1 draw against newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, Edin Terzic’s men will know the importance of making a major statement here. However, while the one-time West Ham coach might have seen his squad suffer just a single domestic defeat over the past couple of months, they should be concerned by a nightmare record against Saturday’s hosts. Hit with an action-packed 3-2 defeat when they welcomed Leipzig to Signal Iduna Park on December 9th, they have lost five of their previous six showdowns against their bitter top-four rivals. Despite enjoying a recent flurry outside of rural Germany, BVB will certainly be bracing themselves for a tricky test this weekend.

Team News

Picking up a recent knee issue, Borussia Dortmund are once again expected to be without attacking talisman Donyell Malen on Saturday afternoon. Likewise, the duo of Ramy Bensebaini and former West Ham striker Sebastian Haller will not travel to the Red Bull Arena this weekend.

However, after serving a one-match suspension against Borussia Dortmund last week, 22-year-old Karim Adeyemi is free to make a full return here. Finding the net in back-to-back appearances across all competitions and registering 12 Bundesliga goals so far this season, ex-Werder Bremen striker Niclas Fullkrug will lead BVB’s charge.

Key Factors to Consider

• When RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund met for their reverse Bundesliga showdown on December 9th, the Red Bulls picked up a 3-2 victory at Signal Iduna Park.
• Likewise, Saturday’s hosts have won five of their previous six meetings against BVB across all competitions.
• RB Leipzig have collected 19 points from their previous 21 Bundesliga appearances.
• The duo of Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda have recorded a combined tally of 33 Bundesliga goals so far this season.
• Borussia Dortmund have failed to collect a clean sheet from any of their previous five appearances across all competitions.

Conclusion

Knowing that they can take another giant step towards a Champions League ticket, RB Leipzig will be desperate to make a heavyweight statement at the Red Bull Arena. Firing on all cylinders and now bagging 19 points from their previous 21 Bundesliga appearances, Saturday’s hosts will also be excited by a rampant record against Dortmund. Landing an action-packed 3-2 victory when they met BVB for their reverse showdown on December 9th, they have won five of their previous six showdowns against their top-four rivals.

Verdict: RB Leipzig win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Luckster