Top-four rivals RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt take top billing on Matchday 14 in the Bundesliga. - © DFL

bundesliga

RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt: How do they stack up?

12.12.2024

Second-in-the-table Eintracht Frankfurt currently sit three points and two places above upcoming opponents RB Leipzig, thanks in no small part to a six-game unbeaten run. However, with two domestic wins from their last two, including a DFB Cup win over Frankfurt, Leipzig are primed to make up lost ground...

Click here for Leipzig vs. Frankfurt match build-up and coverage!

Change of fortunes?

Both sides have started the season strongly, with Leipzig unbeaten until Matchday 9, while Frankfurt have lost just twice across their first 13 games. Leipzig are hoping to improve on their fourth-placed finish from last season, when they finished some 18 points ahead of a Frankfurt side that have been a force to be reckoned with so far in 2024/25.

After flying out of the blocks in the opening weeks, Leipzig began to stumble after their Matchday 9 trip to the Signal Iduna Park ended in their first defeat of the season. An uncharacteristically lacklustre performance allowed Borussia Dortmund to end a run of three consecutive defeats, coincidentally starting a run of three Bundesliga games without a win for Leipzig. Having conceded just three league goals before their visit to Dortmund, Marco Rose’s side then went on to concede 11 in four between Matchdays 9-12 - a blip that ended with a 2-0 win against Holstein Kiel on Matchday 13.

Watch: Holstein Kiel 0-2 RB Leipzig - highlights

While Frankfurt started their season with defeat in Dortmund, the journey since then has been pretty smooth. They won four straight games and were unbeaten in five before losing 2-1 away to reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 7. Those are their only defeats of the season so far, with the electric Omar Marmoush’s 13 goals and seven assists firing them to second in the table, six points behind an unbeaten Bayern Munich side. Things seem to be clicking now at Frankfurt, so much so that Dino Toppmöller’s side are nine points better off than at the same stage in 2023/24. This may be Frankfurt’s year, but Leipzig will hope they can halt their league momentum.

Dynamic duos at both ends

It’s not just Marmoush that has been banging in the goals at Deutsche Bank Park this season. Hugo Ekitiké has got seven goals and three assists in the league, as well as a further four goals and two assists across the UEFA Europa League and DFB Cup.

While both have displayed nimble footwork and clinical finishing many a time this season, it has been their ability to combine with one another that makes Frankfurt such a dangerous proposition. Both seem to know where to find each other every time they get the ball, while Marmoush’s willingness to run in behind and Ekitike’s ability to drop deeper and start attacks himself complement each other perfectly.

Watch: The story of Omar Marmoush

Despite the league goals drying up in recent weeks for Loïs Openda, he still maintains a formidable partnership with Benjamin Šeško. With a combined nine goals out of their side’s 21 so far, as well as five assists between them, these two are key to things clicking at the top end of the pitch for Leipzig. Similar to Marmoush and Ekitiké, both are brilliant with the ball at their feet whilst also having contrasting, but complementary, playing styles.

Like Marmoush, Openda prefers to cause problems out wide, with his incisive runs and eye for goal seeing him net 24 times last season. Šeško is more of a physical presence, capable of holding the ball up, running in behind and dropping deeper to link play. Despite his towering frame, the Slovenian striker has excellent close control and awareness of those around him.

Loïs Openda and Benjamin Šeško (l-r.) are one of the Bundesliga's most formdable strike partnerships. - IMAGO/Sven Sonntag

Mental edge?

Although Frankfurt may lead the comparisons in regards to points and goals scored, their most recent encounter with Leipzig proves they have plenty to think about ahead of their trip to the Red Bull Arena.

The two sides met in the DFB Cup round of 16 on 4 December, with Leipzig recording a convincing 3-0 victory. The result ended a run of six games without a win as they managed to keep Marmoush and Ekitiké quiet whilst scoring three goals through Openda (2) and Šeško.

The question now is whether Frankfurt can clear this defeat from their minds ahead of their return to Leipzig, and also whether the hosts are back on their feet and ready to climb the table again. With Frankfurt drawing at home to 13th-placed Augsburg on Matchday 13, it seems they still have work to do ahead of Sunday's headline clash.