RB Leipzig vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach preview: Hosts continue UCL qualification bid

RB Leipzig

Leipzig are currently sitting in third place in the Bundesliga standings after winning 16, drawing five and losing seven of their 28 league games. Die Roten Bullen, who are ahead of fourth-placed Stuttgart on goal difference, head into matchday 29 with a three and four-point buffer to Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen, who occupy fifth and sixth place respectively. 

They will carry momentum into Saturday’s fixture after winning four of their previous five matches, including their last two. Ole Werner’s side hammered Hoffenheim 5-0 in their most recent home outing, before they got the better of Werder Bremen last weekend. Goals from Antonio Nusa and Rômulo Cardoso proved enough to fire Leipzig to a 2-1 victory over Werner’s former employers. 

They should fancy their chances of picking up three more points on Saturday, considering they have won five of their last seven home matches against Gladbach. That said, they had to settle for a goalless draw in last season’s meeting between the two sides at the Red Bull Arena.

Team News

Leipzig are unable to call upon Castello Lukeba, who picked up an injury in the recent win over Bremen. The hosts will also have to make a late decision on the availability of Conrad Harder.

Predicted lineup: Vandevoordt; Baku, Orbán, Seiwald, Raum; Banzuzi, Schlager, Baumgartner; Diomande, Nusa, Rômulo

Gladbach

Gladbach still have work to do to guarantee another season of top-flight football. Die Fohlen are currently sitting in 13th spot and five points clear of the bottom three after winning seven, drawing nine and losing 12 of their 28 league games this season. While it has been a tricky campaign, Gladbach have at least proven to be a tough team to beat in recent times, having lost just one of their last four matches - a 4-1 defeat in last month’s away clash against leaders Bayern Munich. 

They bounced back from that result with a 2-0 win over St. Pauli, before they played out a thrilling 3-3 scoreline in the derby clash with Köln. Gladbach then had to work hard to take a point from their recent home outing against basement side Heidenheim, which saw Franck Honorat score the all-important 74th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw. 

Die Fohlen will now head on their travels with hopes of claiming their first-ever competitive away win over Leipzig. However, those aspirations may be tempered by the fact they have gone eight league away games without a win since beating Mainz 1-0 in December. 

Team News

Gladbach forward Tim Kleindienst remains sidelined with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Nathan Ngoumou and Robin Hack are on the verge of returning to the matchday squad, although Saturday’s game is likely to come too soon for the pair

Predicted lineup: Nicolas; Sander, Elvedi, Diks; Scally, Reitz, Engelhardt, Castrop; Honorat, Mohya; Tabakovic