Augsburg makes trip to Red Bull Arena as Leipzig clash looms.

2024-09-22

As Leipzig aim to overcome their recent offensive struggles and break a potential club record, Augsburg visit the Red Bull Arena, hoping to end their away-day woes despite Essende's suspension.

RB Leipzig

After a flying start to the 2024-2025 Bundesliga campaign with two consecutive wins, Leipzig's form appears to have hit a snag, with back-to-back goalless draws in their last two league games against Union Berlin and St. Pauli. "Our offensive game is lacking," Marco Rose admitted after last weekend's draw. "At the moment, we are simply having a hard time being a real threat to the goal and asserting ourselves," he added, with Benjamin Šeško’s form being a true reflection of his team’s struggles in the final third.

The striker, who scored in each of Leipzig’s final seven league games the previous season, is still searching for his first of this campaign. Currently in fifth place, one point behind fourth-placed Frankfurt, Rose’s men will now look to bounce back to winning ways when they welcome Augsburg to the Red Bull Arena this weekend.

Having won their last five games on home turf against the visitors, Rose will have all three points across his chest. While the Red Bulls have failed to record wins in their last two league games, they have remained unbeaten in 15 games (9W, 6D) in the league, matching their club record from January to May 2019 under Ralf Rangnick. They could surpass this record if they avoid defeat this weekend.

Having failed to score in their last two league games, a first since March/April 2023, Leipzig will be looking to avoid a further unwanted record that could see them draw a blank in three consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time in the club’s history. A 4—4—2 formation is expected against Augsburg, with Šeško and Loïs Openda in attack.

FC Augsburg

Meanwhile, Augsburg are coming off a dramatic 3-2 defeat against Mainz last Friday. This defeat leaves them in 12th place, one point behind 11th-placed Werder Bremen.

Despite a spirited fightback, having trailed by two goals on two different occasions, goals from Keven Schlotterbeck [25'] and Samuel Essende [57'] only served to narrow the deficit. The game reached a dramatic conclusion following Samuel Essende’s red card in the 70th minute.

‘I’m disappointed that we lost, but our performance was good in general,’ Jess Thorup said after the defeat. ‘Samuel’s red card was justified,’ he added, speaking on the 26-year-old striker’s dismissal.

Fuggerstädter will now make the trip to Leipzig this weekend, hoping to return as happy travellers. However, the visitors have lost each of their last five away league games, spanning from last season.

Thorup could deploy a 4—5—1, with Phillip Tietz in attack. Meanwhile, Essende is suspended for the weekend’s game following his red card last time out.