RB Leipzig welcome Borussia Dortmund to Red Bull Arena for a crucial Bundesliga showdown that could shape the battle for Champions League qualification. Borussia Dortmund travel to Leipzig looking to bounce back from a 1-0 Bundesliga defeat to Augsburg—a match in which they dominated but conceded on their opponent’s only shot on target.
Marco Rose’s side sits sixth in the table with 39 points after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Freiburg, where they missed several clear chances. Despite their inconsistency in front of goal—failing to score in four of their last eight matches—Leipzig remains just three points behind fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Leipzig’s home form has been a bright spot, with five wins from their last eight games at Red Bull Arena. However, they will be eager to avenge November’s 2-1 defeat to Dortmund, a match in which Leipzig failed to create a single big chance while allowing six.
Despite recent setbacks, BVB remains in strong form under new head coach Niko Kovač, who has already overseen three league victories in his first six matches. Dortmund’s confidence will also be boosted by their midweek 2-1 Champions League triumph over Lille, which secured them a place in the quarter-finals against Barcelona.
With three wins in their last six across all competitions, the visitors will aim to climb from their current 10th place. Kovač’s side has also impressed on the road, winning four of their last five away matches while scoring eight goals. Dortmund pose a real threat to Leipzig’s top-four ambitions.
Leipzig remains without Antonio Nusa and long-term absentee Benjamin Henrichs. Xavi Simons and Ridle Baku are expected to flank the strike duo of Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda, while Amadou Haidara and Arthur Vermeeren should start in midfield due to injuries to Forzan Assan Ouedraogo, Kevin Kampl, and Xaver Schlager.
Dortmund will be missing defender Daniel Svensson and midfielder Felix Nmecha. This could see Julian Ryerson, Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini form the backline, while Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Groß are likely to anchor the midfield. Karim Adeyemi, Julian Brandt, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are expected to support striker Serhou Guirassy in attack.
RB Leipzig: Gulácsi; Geertruida, Orbán, Bitshiabu, Raum; Baku, Haidara, Vermeeren, Simons; Šeško, Openda
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Groß; Adeyemi, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
