RB Leipzig vs. Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga Preview: Team news and predicted lineups

Overview

With RB Leipzig struggling in their first game after the winter break, a match against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen following such a result would cause some issues with the squad's morale.

A 1-0 defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt marked RB Leipzig's start to 2024. With a total of 21 shots in the game, Leipzig will hope that they can be more clinical against Bayer Leverkusen in order to stunt Leverkusen's title surge.

Summer signing Loïs Openda has been a bright spark for RB Leipzig as he has netted eleven goals in the first half of the season and has also registered the second highest (71) number of shots in the Bundesliga.

On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen will rely heavily on squad depth in their game against RB Leipzig seeing as their main striker Victor Boniface is out with injury and their revolutionary defender Edmond Tapsoba is currently on international duty with his country Burkina Faso for the African Cup of Nations.

Striker Patrick Schick marked his return to the Bundesliga from injury on matchday 16 with a hat-trick against VfL Bochum and will have to step up to fill the boots of the injured Boniface.

Midfielder Florian Wirtz is in the form of his life and won the Bundesliga Player of the Month Award for December following a superb month for the club.

RB Leipzig Team News

For Leipzig, Willi Orban is still out with a knee injury and Amadou Haidara is unavailable as he is on international duty at the African Cup of Nations for Mali.

RB Leipzig Predicted Lineup

Bayer Leverkusen Team News

Amine Adli, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou are all at the African Cup of Nations. Midfielder Arthur is out with a thigh injury and Victor Boniface is out for several months with a groin injury.

Bayer Leverkusen Predicted Lineup