Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig preview: A mouthwatering 'Topspiel'
Bayer Leverkusen
German double winners Bayer Leverkusen have enjoyed a winning start to their new campaign, but it has not been all roses for them.
A hard-fought penalty shootout win over Stutgart in the Supercup was followed by a narrow 3-2 win over Gladbach in their Bundesliga opener, thanks to Florian Wirtz's injury-time winner.
On Wednesday, a second-string Leverkusen side eked out a 1-0 win at Regionalliga side Carl Zeiss Jena courtesy of Jonas Hofmann's second-half strike.
“We have to talk about what we did, how we played today, over 90 minutes, that that's not enough. Not even against Regionalliga teams. And we have to be honest with each other and analyze it honestly,” said Robert Andrich in a self-critical interview after the game.
"That's not us and we have to be honest about that and we definitely have to do better."
Team News
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has a full squad at his disposal with the exception of Exequiel Palacios, who is still recovering from injury.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig had to fight hard to beat Bochum on the opening day of the season, winning 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from substitute Antonio Nusa in a game that saw them reduced to 10 men when captain Willi Orban was shown a straight red card.
Nusa, 19, has made an immediate impact since joining from Club Brugge, scoring in his first two games, and could be handed his first start against the champions.
“RB Leipzig is a top club, so expectations are high,” Nusa said after the win over Bochum.
“I want to keep working hard every day to be able to deliver my best performances. So far, things are going well, I want to keep going like this. But we have a lot to do.”
Finishing fourth in the 2023/24 Bundesliga, Leipzig lost 3-2 to Bayer Leverkusen in both meetings last season and will be keen to avenge that against the champions, who haven't lost a Bundesliga match since May 2023.
Team News
RB Leipzig will be without their suspended captain, Willi Orban. Ouédraogo (knee), Schlager (knee) are definitely out too, while Bitshiabu (thigh) is a doubt.
Click here to see our predicted RB Leipzig vs. Bayer Leverkusen lineups.