Bayer Leverkusen – RB Leipzig
On Friday, the Bundesliga kicked off the 2023/24 season with the visit of the German champions from Munich to the Weser (Bremen – Bayern tip). The top match of the first matchday, however, will take place one day later. At the BayArena at 3:30 pm, two teams will face off that are considered secret favourites for the championship title in the coming season. Find out who will be able to underpin this status on the first matchday in our Leverkusen vs Leipzig tip.
The previous week was already very successful for both teams. The hosts from Leverkusen more than lived up to their role as favourites in the DFB Cup. Against the regional league team Ottensen, the Werkself played itself into a run and won impressively with 8:0 at the Millerntor in Hamburg. RB Leipzig, meanwhile, was challenged at the Super Cup in Munich. Against the reigning champions, RasenBallsport won 3-0 to claim the first Super Cup in the club’s history.
Moreover, we do not have to fear a wait-and-see back and forth passing of the ball at the start of the season. For in the Rhineland, two of the most efficient counter-attacking teams of the previous season are facing each other. Bayer scored the highest number of goals from quick counter-attacks with ten, while RBL recorded the nine counter-attack goals.
Leverkusen – Leipzig info:
- Date & Time: 19.08.2023, 15:30 Uhr
- Game venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 1
- TV broadcast: Sky
Leverkusen Form & Balance Check
With Xabi Alonso as head coach, Bayer 04 Leverkusen experienced an impressive development last season. Initially, under the guidance of former coach Gerardo Seoane, the Werkself achieved surprisingly poor results and ranked only 17th in the table after eight match days. But as the season progressed, Leverkusen steadily gained momentum and climbed steadily up the table until they were sixth after matchday 34.
This season, then, it’s back to Europa League action for kickers under the Bayerkreuz. In the Bundesliga, on the other hand, the aim is to reach higher spheres again. Qualifying for the Champions League is the Werkself’s minimum goal this season. The Rhinelanders had a good start to the season in the cup the previous week. Leverkusen won convincingly against Teutonia Ottensen with a score of 8:0.
New system?
Coach Alonso focused on a fast-paced switching game involving his nimble players last year, which led to the formation of a three-man backline. Moussa Diaby and Jeremie Frimpong were possibly the fastest duo on the right side of the Bundesliga. Diaby’s top speed of 36.52 km/h placed the young Frenchman as the fourth fastest player in the Bundesliga this season.
But full-back Jeremie Frimpong also reached an impressive speed of 36 km/h, which is by no means to be underestimated. However, with Frenchman Diaby now playing for Aston Villa in the Premier League, a back four could also return to action for the Werkself in the New Year.
Leverkusen facts & analysis
- Placed 6th in the Bundesliga last season.
- Won the DFB Cup the previous week with 8:0 against Ottensen
- Excluded in the semi-finals of the Europa League the previous year
Leipzig form & balance check
Leipzig made a cautious start to the previous season, but RasenBallsport worked consistently to record a run of six unbeaten competitive games to end the season, for example. A key driver of this success was undoubtedly Marco Rose, who has not allowed any other team in the Bundesliga to collect more points than RB Leipzig since he took over last September.
This positive development led to the Saxons finally securing their return to the top flight on matchday 33 with a win in Munich and consolidating third place. In the new season, the good form continued. In the Super Cup the following week, RB showed surprisingly good early form and defeated the champions from Munich 3:0
Incredible talent
RB had to cope with the departures of four key players Szoboszlai, Gvardiol, Laimer and Nkunku in the summer. But Leipzig also brought in a number of promising talents who would undoubtedly be permanent regulars at most other teams in the league.
Benjamin Sesko, Fábio Carvalho and Xavi Simons are three of Leipzig’s incredibly good new signings. What’s more, all three technically skilled attacking players are only 20 years old and are entering the new season without a care in the world. It will be exciting to see to what extent the newcomers can directly compensate for the bloodletting.
Leipzig facts & analysis
- Placed 3rd in the Bundesliga last season.
- Won 3:0 against Bayern in the Super Cup
- Reigning DFB Cup winners
Predicted line-up – last update on 17 August 2023
Xabi Alonso did not play with the usual three-man backline in the preparation and also in the cup, but with a 4-2-3-1. That’s how we expect the Werkself to play on Saturday. Hincapié and Adli, however, will be suspended for the season opener.
For the Bundesliga opener, RB Leipzig will in all likelihood once again use the tried and tested 4-4-2 system with two attack-minded wingers. The top of the attack will once again be manned by Werner, while new signing Loïs Openda will operate alongside him. In addition, we predict that triple goal scorer Olmo will be in the starting line-up.
Leverkusen – Leipzig direct comparison & stats
In the 14 meetings between Leverkusen and RB Leipzig so far, Leverkusen have won just three, while the Saxons have emerged victorious seven times. Leipzig have only suffered one defeat at the BayArena. RasenBallsport also had the upper hand in the first leg of the previous season. However, Leverkusen managed a 2-0 win in the second leg.
- Both teams are secret favourites to win the championship
- Leipzig won three of last five games against Leverkusen
- Both teams won in their first competitive match in the previous week
