Defences win championships, as the old cliché goes, and a resilient backline is often the foundation upon which successful title bids are built. Having shipped just 20 goals in 17 leagues games (and eight in six as they progressed to the last-16 of the Champions League), Leipzig's defensive record is only bettered by Gladbach and Wolfsburg (both have conceded 18).

Goalkeeper Peter Gulasci kept a brilliant 16 clean sheets in 33 Bundesliga matches last season, and Leipzig conceded only 29 goals in 34 games overall. So far this term they have shut out Union Berlin, Werder Bremen, Mainz and Fortuna Düsseldorf, while they only conceded one goal each to European participants Eintracht Frankfurt, Gladbach, Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg.

Furthermore, hugely talented French defenders Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate may still only be 20, but Lewandowski recently singled the duo out as two of the best players he's come up against in the Bundesliga. Injuries have meant that the pair have only lined up alongside each other once so far this season, the 3-0 shutout of Werder Bremen on Matchday 5. Konate has not featured since, with Leipzig unbeaten in his five league outings this season (W4, D1) and having kept two clean sheets in the process. Just imagine how good Leipzig will be when they're both back and fully fit.

And as if that were not enough, flanking them just so happen to be Germany's new first-choice full-backs Lukas Klostermann and Marcel Halstenberg. In addition to being accomplished defenders, they are both excellent at bombing forwards and have contributed a combined three goals and three assists already this season. Which leads us neatly to our next point...

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