Next up: RB Leipzig – in-form, but struggling at home

RB could not summon up a brilliant performance like last Saturday, when Leipzig were commanding 4-1 winners away at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, against the tactically astute Italian side. "We know that we still have a chance in Bergamo. It is still 50-50," said defensive lynchpin Willi Orban. But before they set to that task, the Hungarian stressed, they would have to see off the challenge of Hoffenheim. After just a three-day break, the legs of the home side are still heavy after the hard-fought draw against the Italians, so Leipzig will be pleased that TSG are arriving on Sunday with serious personnel problems. On the other hand, RB have every reason to be optimistic about their 12th Bundesliga game against TSG.

The team from Leipzig have the best return in the league during the second half of the season, having secured 26 out of a possible 33 points – three points more than Bayern – who are the only team to beat them in this period. And the man who has set Leipzig on such a good course is in fact someone with a past in Hoffenheim. Domenico Tedesco has now taken charge of the team for 14 matches in the Bundesliga – exactly as many as his predecessor, Jesse Marsch. Under the leadership of the American – who has now taken the reigns at Leeds United – the team from Saxony managed 18 points, whereas Tedesco has amassed 30 points, catapulting Leipzig into a Champions League spot. And RB are looking to stay in that spot at all costs, starting with a win against "Hoffe".

But there is indeed one flaw in the recent run of form, and it presents an opportunity for TSG: Leipzig, who are still in the Europa League and the DFB-Pokal and have six wins and four draws from their last ten competitive games, have not won a home game since February 11, playing out four draws. "I don't see a problem there. That's just a statistic. Basically, we are flowing and on the path to success," said RB centre-back Orban.

In Dortmund, two players from the league's form side stood out in particular, and TSG coach Sebastian Hoeness will certainly be making his side aware of them. Konrad Laimer, who operates mostly in the shadow of more famous stars, not only scored two goals against BVB, but also contested the most duels and covered the most ground during the game. An interesting duel is likely to take place between Laimer and his Austrian compatriot Christoph Baumgartner in midfield, with the TSG star optimistically predicting a 3-1 victory for his team on Friday. "Despite missing several players, we will have a good team on the pitch and can put up some good resistance for 90 minutes. I assume that we can win too," said Baumgartner. The 22-year-old and his teammates should pay particular attention to a certain Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman has become the shooting star of the season, the only Bundesliga player to be directly involved in 30 goals (in 28 games), with double-digit hauls for both goals (16) and assists (14). Despite all the strengths of the side from Leipzig, who only have to make do without Amadou Haidara (knee injury) and Yussuf Poulsen (torn groin), TSG should take comfort looking at the reverse fixture this season. That day, they put in one of the best performances of the season in Sinsheim, running out 2-0 winners.

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