RB Leipzig vs. Freiburg: How do they stack up?
The Bundesliga will have an unexpected leader on Saturday night after RB Leipzig take on Freiburg in Matchday 8's stand-out clash. All eyes will be on the Red Bull Arena as two of Europe’s form teams aim to make history and continue their sublime starts. bundesliga.com takes a look at where the game will be won and lost...
The new kid on the block vs. the man ready to win
There was a time when Marco Rose was the most exciting young coach in Germany at Borussia Mönchengladbach, but five years on he’s one of the most leading coaches in Europe regardelss of age. After a stint at Borussia Dortmund, he’s found his feet back home in Leipzig and has RB flying in his third season. With 17 points after seven games, Leipzig have had their best-ever Bundesliga start and only goal difference is separating them from top spot for the first time in four years. A draw or win will put them there ahead of Bayern Munich, albeit having played a game more. And currently in the midst of an 18-game unbeaten Bundesliga run, it looks like Rose and Leipzig are ready to move to the next level.
Watch: Are RB Leipzig genuine title candidates?
Julian Schuster, meanwhile, is a novice in comparison. In his first full-time senior head coach role, the 39-year-old was under plenty of pressure as he followed in the footsteps of legendary predecessor Christian Streich, who was part of the furniture after a near 13-year stint at the helm. So far, though, the transition has been seamless, and the former club captain has even made history. After seven Bundesliga games, Freiburg have won five for the first time, and they have only matched their current 15-point haul once before. Should they add another three against Leipzig, Schuster will have the outright record for the eight-game opening to a top-flight term.
Tough nuts to crack
Freiburg have been one of the best defensive teams in the Bundesliga this term, but no one is comparable to Leipzig, who have managed a huge six clean sheets in their seven games. Helping them to that miserly total is club icon Péter Gulácsi, with the Hungarian shot-stopper returning from a couple of tricky injury-hit seasons to hit the form of his life. His active five-game run without conceding is a Leipzig record, and has needed to be at his best to do so; a clash against Heidenheim on Matchday 6 saw thim put in a performance for the ages to somehow keep his opponents at bay.
Watch: Heidenheim 0-1 RB Leipzig - highlights
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Between the away sticks will be Freiburg academy graduate Noah Atubolu, the last line of defence for a side who have shipped only eight strikes so far. He himself has conceded just five in as many appearances, the third-best ratio in the league behind Gulácsi and Frederik Rønnow. Leipzig will be his toughest task yet, but now with a season of senior football under his belt, his he will be confident of stepping up once more.
Leaders (and scorers) at the back
Willi Orbán and Philipp Lienhart’s main job is to keep the ball out of the net, but both star centre-backs scored last time out in victories to show they can do it all. Leinhart’s header from a corner in the 3-1 triumph over Augsburg was his third goal in three games, having scored twice for Austria during the international break and, while Orbán’s effort versus Mainz was his first since May 2023, he has found the back of net on numerous occasions for Leipzig down the years.
Watch: Freiburg 3-1 Augsburg - highlights
At the back is where it matters, though, and both have been key in their teams’ sublime starts. Orbán has arguably been the Bundesliga’s best defender, as backed up by a 72 percent duel success rate backs that is the highest in the league. Leinhart, meanwhike, boasts an impressive 66 percent in that department, and the ever-present former Real Madrid prospect is proving to be one of the most reliable defenders in Germany.
Good Grif-o
Gulácsi and Orbán will need to be especially alert to stop Vincenzo Grifo, who has picked up a goal or an assist in five matches this term. The Italian cult hero has managed seven goal contributions overall, including two against Augsburg last time out - in total, only Omar Marmoush and Harry Kane have been involved in more strikes.
Watch: Freiburg - Black Forest Magic
Just behind the Freiburg star is Leipzig’s own attacking dynamo, Loïs Openda, who has a solid five involvements (four goals and an assist) himself. However, the Belgian will be particularly excited about facing Frieburg considering what happened in the previous meeting. He registered two goals and two assists in a 4-1 win at the Europa-Park Stadion, his best-ever Bundesliga output in a single game.
Making the magic happen
While Grifo and Openda have match-winning qualities, their brilliant starts wouldn’t have been possible without the playmakers behind them - Ritsu Dōan and Xavi. The pair have four goal contributions apiece, with three goals for Dōan and two for Xavi. The delightful Dutch youngster's absence with an ankle injury sustained in the UEFA Champions League encounter against Liverpool in midweek leaves a tough hole for Leipzig to fill. With Antonio Nusa starting to claim a regular starting berth, the 19-year-old new signing might just seize the chance to bring his talent to the fore, while Christoph Baumgartner can also expect to see increased playing time - and is a proven source of defence-splitting passes and spectacular strikes.
Watch: The best of Christoph Baumgartner
Xavi's injury arguably makes the encounter even more unpredictable, but Leipzig will still offer a powerful attacking punch - something Freiburg can certainly match - making sure the defences will have to be on their toes if their side is to triumph on Saturday.
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