RB Leipzig vs. Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Die Adler aiming to extend unbeaten run

RB Leipzig 

RB Leipzig are sitting in second place and eight points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich after winning eight, drawing two and losing two of their 12 league games. Die Roten Bullen have taken four points from two outings since losing to Hoffenheim before the international break. They recorded a 2-0 home victory over Werder Bremen, before they played out a goalless draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach. 

Ole Werner’s side then returned to winning ways in their midweek DFB-Pokal clash against second-tier Magdeburg. Antonio Nusa cancelled out Silas Gnaka’s opener, before Christoph Baumgartner netted a brace to seal a 3-1 success and send his team into the quarter-finals.

Leipzig will now turn their focus to Saturday’s tricky league game against Frankfurt. The hosts head into the weekend as one of three teams with a 100% home record in the Bundesliga, having won all five of their league games at the Red Bull Arena. They have also won their last two home games against Frankfurt, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent home encounter in December 2024.

Team News

Johan Bakayoko should be available after missing the midweek cup win due to a small injury issue. However, the hosts are unable to call upon Ridle Baku, Assan Ouédraogo El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Benjamin Henrichs, Viggo Gebel, Kevin Kampl, Timo Werner and Romulo Cardoso.

Predicted lineup: Gulácsi; Nedeljković, Orbán, Lukeba, Raum; Schlager, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Diomande, Nusa, Harder

Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt are in seventh place and five points adrift of Leipzig after collecting 21 points from their 12 league games. Die Adler have avoided defeat in each of their last six league games since they fell to a heavy 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich at the start of October.

However, they have failed to win either of their last two competitive games. Dino Toppmöller’s side capitulated in the second half of their 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League, before they played out a 1-1 draw in last Sunday’s home Bundesliga meeting with Wolfsburg. Michy Batshuayi proved to be Frankfurt’s hero in that score draw, netting a stoppage-time penalty to cancel out Wolfsburg’s 67th-minute opener.

Die Adler should fancy their chances of picking up a positive result on Saturday, having avoided defeat in each of their last four competitive away games. In fact, the visitors are eyeing back-to-back away victories after beating FC Köln 4-3 in their most recent road trip.  

Team News

Frankfurt are unable to call upon Jonathan Burkardt, who is sidelined with a calf injury. Meanwhile, Can Uzun and Hugo Larsson are set to return to the squad after recovering from their respective injury issues. 

Predicted lineup: Zetterer; Collins, Koch, Theate; Kristensen, Dahoud, Chaïbi, Brown; Doan, Götze; Bahoya