LIVE : RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich - prediction, team news, lineups
Former RB Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann takes his Bayern Munich side to the Red Bull Arena, where two teams battling for the Bundesliga title will lock horns on Saturday evening.
Three of the last four meetings between the two sides have ended as a draw, though Bayern were victorious when they last visited Die Roten Bullen, securing a narrow 1-0 win in April.
Match preview
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Before the international break, Leipzig suffered their second defeat in three Bundesliga matches when they were beaten 1-0 away at Wolfsburg.
Die Roten Bullen have now extended their losing league run on the road to five matches, including results from last season.
Three points accumulated after three games – including a 4-0 win over Stuttgart last month – means this is the worst start to a season in RB Leipzig's top-flight history.
Jesse Marsch's task to turn their fortunes around will prove to be a challenge in their next two fixtures, firstly against German giants Bayern Munich, before travelling to England to face Manchester City in their opening Champions League group stage match.
Away form in the Bundesliga has been a problem in recent months, though they have fared better at the Red Bull Arena, losing just one of their last 10 top-flight matches.
Leipzig have failed to win each of their last seven meetings against Bayern, but a victory for Marsch's men on Saturday could be the springboard they need to put a positive run of form together.
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Despite playing out a 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on the opening day of the new season, Bayern Munich have looked strong so far this campaign, scoring 24 goals in their first five matches across all competitions.
Five of those goals hit the back of the net against Hertha Berlin in their most recent Bundesliga match, as they cruised to a 5-0 victory at the Allianz Arena, thanks to a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick as well as strikes from Thomas Muller and Jamal Musiala.
Bayern head into this weekend's fixture in good form, though they have had a slight blip on the road in recent league matches, failing to win each of their last three. The last time they went four Bundesliga away games without a win was back in the 2011-12 season.
FCB – who have won the Bundesliga title in each of the last nine seasons – are keen to maintain their dominance at the summit of German football, with victories over their nearest challengers such as Leipzig needed to ensure they remain there.
Bayern will be confident of securing a positive result on Saturday, as they have claimed six wins and five draws in their 12 competitive meetings against Leipzig, with their only defeat suffered away from home in March 2018.
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Team News
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Marsch is expected to name the same side that has started the previous two Bundesliga matches, which would see teenage defender Josko Gvardiol continue at left-back ahead of the injured Angelino.
Deadline-day signing Ilaix Moriba, who joined on a permanent deal from Barcelona, will be in contention to feature this weekend, though he is expected to start on the bench, with Amadou Haidara and Tyler Adams set to remain in the middle of the pitch.
Striker Andre Silva, who has scored 41 goals in his last 60 Bundesliga appearances, is likely to lead the line in attack ahead of Yussuf Poulsen and Brian Brobbey.
As for Bayern, they will be without French duo Kingsley Coman and Benjamin Pavard, who are suffering with respective hamstring and ankle injuries.
Twenty-one-year-old Josip Stanisic is expected to keep his place at right-back in Pavard's absence, while there are a plethora of attacking options who can fill in for Coman, including Musiala, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry.
Summer signings Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer could face their former club Leipzig on Saturday, though the latter is doubtful with a groin problem.
Lewandowski, who is set to start up front once again for the visitors, has scored in each of his last 13 Bundesliga games and is now just three behind the record set by Gerd Muller, who scored in 16 top-flight matches in a row during the 1969-70 season.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Simakan, Gvardiol; Adams, Haidara; Szoboszlai, Forsberg, Nkunku; Silva
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Stanisic, Upamecano, Sule, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Musiala; Lewandowski