RB Leipzig vs Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Two Europa League quarter-finalists battle it out in the Bundesliga
RB Leipzig will be looking to continue their top-four push, when they face an Eintracht Frankfurt side who are bidding to clinch a third consecutive league victory.
| Christopher Nkunku. | Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
RB Leipzig
Leipzig head into Sunday as one of the in-form teams in the Bundesliga after collecting 13 points from their previous five games. Perhaps more impressive is that two of their last four league matches have ended in 6-1 victories.
The most recent of those occurred last weekend, when Leipzig eased past struggling Greuther Fürth. Their success in front of goal has helped them score more Bundesliga goals in 2022 than any other side, but that goalscoring prowess has not compromised their ability to remain resolute at the back, with Leipzig conceding the fewest league goals this calendar year.
It is safe to say that Domenico Tedesco has transformed Leipzig's campaign, with Die Roten Bullen hunting down a Champions League qualification spot, while they are also in the last eight of the Europa League.
Following Freiburg's draw away to Fürth on Saturday, Leipzig dropped down to fifth place in the Bundesliga, but they will return to the top four with a point on Sunday.
Leipzig hold an impressive home record having won nine of their 13 home league matches, with the hosts scoring at least two goals in all of those victories, while they have only failed to score in just one league game at the Red Bull Arena this season.
Team News
Lukas Klostermann is a doubt for the contest, while Kevin Kampl is set to return to the squad after missing last weekend's win against Fürth.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt are currently riding a crest of a wave after securing their passage to the Europa League quarter-finals in the most dramatic of circumstances. Oliver Glasner's side held the advantage going into Thursday's encounter after winning 1-0 in Spain, and they looked destined to play out a goalless draw at home until Borja Iglesias struck in the 90th minute to send the game to extra time.
As the contest drifted into the 121st minute it was Frankfurt's turn to net in stoppage time, with Guido Rodriguez guiding the ball into his own net, giving Die Adler a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Frankfurt's reward for their efforts is a glamour tie against Barcelona, but before they face Xavi's side they have to negotiate two important league fixtures against RB Leipzig and Fürth.
Depending on who wins the DFB-Pokal, seventh place could become a Europa Conference League spot, and that will be at the forefront of Glasner's mind. Frankfurt only have a small gap to make up with two points separating them from Köln, who sit in seventh position.
The visitors carry the fourth-best away record in the Bundesliga into Sunday's contest, while they are also unbeaten in their last five competitive meetings with Leipzig, although the last three contests have all ended level.
Team News
Glasner is unable to call upon the services of Diant Ramaj and Ragnar Ache, while Djibril Sow is suspended for the encounter due to an accumulation of yellow cards.