RB Leipzig Face In-Form Borussia Dortmund as Champions League Aspirations Dim

RB Leipzig welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Red Bull Arena on Saturday in the Bundesliga, with their prospects for Champions League qualification next season looking increasingly uncertain.

That said, Dortmund manager Robert Kovac is dealing with a defensive injury crisis, and Leipzig have a strong recent record against the away team, so Ole Werner and his players might approach the match with some guarded optimism.

Having sat out European competitions this season after missing them last year, Leipzig have failed to capitalise on the lighter schedule and currently occupy fifth place in the standings, just one point clear of Bayer Leverkusen in sixth, who have a match to play.

Following a promising opening to the campaign, where they secured eight victories and suffered only one defeat in 10 outings, Leipzig have hit a rough patch. They have not managed back-to-back league wins since the start of November and have claimed just three triumphs in their last 10 encounters across all tournaments.

Another absence from Europes premier club competition and the financial rewards it offers would hit the Red Bull supported outfit hard, given their squad boasts some of the finest talents in German football.

By contrast, Dortmund arrive in excellent shape. Having suffered only a single Bundesliga loss this term, they have elevated their performance in 2026.

The 2024 Champions League runners-up are enjoying a six-game winning streak in the league and trail table toppers Bayern Munich by six points, after Bayern held an 11-point advantage over the festive period.

Things are not entirely straightforward, however, as Kovac announced on Thursday that Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Suele, Emre Can and Filippo Mane will remain sidelined for the weekend.

We are not taking Leipzig lightly, regardless of their form lately, Kovac remarked. They have just one fixture per week, full preparation time, and come into it rested.

Certainly, past encounters indicate that the leagues hottest team cannot afford complacency at the Red Bull Arena.

Leipzig have triumphed in their last five home games versus Dortmund by an aggregate margin of 13-2.

Since Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho led Dortmund to a win against Leipzig in the 2021 German Cup final, Borussia have managed only two victories in 10 meetings with the Red Bulls across all competitions.

Werner, the Leipzig boss, assured on Thursday that his team would aim to deliver an engaging spectacle.

We do not have a reputation for defensive play, and that will not change against Dortmund, he stated. We must perform at our peak throughout.

In other action, table leaders Bayern entertain Eintracht Frankfurt, while Leverkusen have the chance to overtake Leipzig when they visit Union Berlin on Saturday.

Player to watch: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Having signed a new four-year deal, Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano is now fully committed to his clubs domestic and European pursuits.

With Bayern leading the Bundesliga, advancing to the Champions League knockout stage and reaching the German Cup semi-finals, the French defender feels a treble is within reach.

This is our goal, Upamecano shared with the Bundesliga site on Thursday.

We are approaching each match step by step. Our attention is on Frankfurt. Winning that is crucial.

Key stats

4 All four of Borussia Dortmunds goals versus Mainz in their most recent outing were set up by Julian Ryerson.

3 Bayern have gone ahead through a Harry Kane spot-kick in each of their previous three games.

6 Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy has netted six times in his last four appearances.

Fixtures (1430 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Mainz v Hamburg (1930)

Saturday

Wolfsburg v Augsburg, Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt, Cologne v Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund (1730)

Sunday

Freiburg v Borussia Moenchengladbach, St Pauli v Werder Bremen (1630), Heidenheim v Stuttgart (1830)