Leipzig take on Dortmund in top-of-the-table battle for fourth place.
RB Leipzig vs
Borussia Dortmund
In a crucial top-four Bundesliga clash, RB Leipzig will host Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena on April 27th, with only two points separating the sides and both eyeing a critical win to secure a stronger foothold in the race for Champions League qualification.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig are coming into this match after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Heidenheim at the Voith-Arena. Benjamin Šeško opened the scoring for the Red Bulls via a close-range effort, with Heidenheim failing to clear their lines. Moments into the second half, Nikola Dovedan restored parity for Heidenheim. However, Loïs Openda's late goal secured all three points for Leipzig.
Marco Rose’s men have now won their last three league games. With 59 points (18W, 5D, & 7L), they sit in fourth place, two points above Dortmund ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table battle to keep 4th place. Meanwhile, with an impressive goal ratio of 2.3 goals per game this season, RB Leipzig are the third-best scoring side in the league, having scored 69 goals in 30 Bundesliga games.
They have also enjoyed success in recent meetings with Dortmund, winning five of their last six matches in all competitions against the visitors. A win in this encounter would widen the point gap between both sides to five points, leaving Leipzig in pole position for a top-four finish ahead of the Black & Yellows.
Marco Rose will be back to take charge of the team after failing to make an appearance on the bench last time out following a suspension. Assistant Alexander Zickler took his place on the bench. The 47-year-old is expected to keep the familiar 4-4-2 formation, with Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda in attack on his return to the dugout.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund are coming off the back of a stoppage-time 1-1 draw against recently crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. The game saw the Black and Yellows threaten to end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run, but it eventually finished with both sides sharing the spoils after a goal from Josip Stanišić deep inside stoppage time.
Dortmund are fifth on the Bundesliga table with 57 points, having won three of their last five league games. They have remained undefeated in their last 10 away league games, a record that could provide vital inspiration for the crucial top-four showdown this weekend.
A win would see Dortmund leapfrog Leipzig, giving them a one-point advantage over Saturday's opponents. Coach Edin Terzić could deploy a 4—2—3—1 formation with Niclas Füllkrug leading the attack, but he will have to manage without Emre Can and Ian Maatsen, who are suspended, as well as Sébastien Haller and Ramy Bensebaïni, who are injured.
