The likes of Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz, Xavi and Loïs Openda could decide Bayer Leverkusen's meeting with RB Leipzig. - © DFL

bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig: How do they stack up?

28.08.2024

With a dramatic opening day victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, defending champions Bayer Leverkusen have continued their incredible form from last season, while RB Leipzig will hope their opening day victory over Bochum could be the first step towards a serious title challenge in 2024/25. bundesliga.com looks at how both sides are shaping up ahead of Saturday's clash at the BayArena...

Clinical finishers

Spoilt for choice when it comes to forward options, Leverkusen and Leipzig have more than one striker capable of scoring the goals to fire their side to victory.

The invincible Leverkusen’s main man up top is Victor Boniface, who scored an impressive 14 goals in 23 appearances in his debut Bundesliga season whilst also providing nine assists, showing his ability to create goals for the likes of Florian Wirtz as well as put them away. Unfortunately, Boniface’s season was curtailed by injury which meant that Patrik Schick came into the spotlight for Die Werkself. While Xabi Alonso preferred to use Wirtz as a false nine in Boniface’s absence, Schick still contributed with important goals towards the business end of a historic double-winning season.

Schick scored his side’s third in their 3-2 win against Freiburg on Matchday 26, as well as a late winner against Hoffenheim a week later as Leverkusen cruised toward the Bundesliga title. However, it was in the UEFA Europa League where Schick’s goals were most important. He scored a late equaliser to secure a first-leg draw from 2-0 down against Qarabağ, before hitting two late goals in a comeback win on home soil.

Watch: Leverkusen left it very late against Gladbach on Matchday 1

Leipzig have two brilliant young talents leading the line in the form of Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda, who scored 38 Bundesliga goals between them last season. Both offer different skillsets, making it hard for opposition defences to keep them quiet. Šeško provides technical brilliance with an imposing 6’4" frame, while Openda combines clever movement, quick feet and incredible pace.

Only the offside flag denied Šeško an eighth goal in as many Bundesliga games dating back to last season in the narrow Bochum win on Matchday 1. Openda was his usual hive of activity as he looks to build on a debut-season haul of 24 Bundesliga goals - a tally bettered only by Serhou Guirassy (28) and Harry Kane (36).

Midfield magicians

The goalscoring prowess of all of these centre-forwards is no accident, however, as they are supported by the creative genius of Wirtz and Xavi, respectively. Wirtz was named Bundesliga Player of the Season following his contribution to his side’s unbeaten title run, where he recorded 11 goals and 12 assists in the league in addition to four goals in the Europa League and a further three in the DFB Cup. Wirtz also starred at UEFA Euro 2024, opening the scoring in Germany’s 5-1 win over Scotland with an incredible strike from distance and proving that his brilliance is befitting of any stage.

Last season was Xavi’s first in the Bundesliga and he made such a great impression that Leipzig had to bring him back for another one. A product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Simons left the club for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 as he looked for a clearer pathway into first-team football. He was eventually given this opportunity by PSV Eindhoven, whom he joined on loan in the 2022/23 season, where he showcased his incredible talent by winning the Eredivisie Golden Boot with 19 goals, as well as Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup winner's medals.

Xavi's next loan was to Marco Rose’s Leipzig, where the Dutchman scored eight times and provided 13 assists as his side finished in fourth place last term.

Watch: Xavi under the tactical microscope

Defensive solidity

The attacking quality of both of these sides is of course allowed to flourish with the help of a reliable backline. Leverkusen had the best defensive record of last season by only conceding 24 goals, while Leipzig were joint-second in that regard (39 goals against).

Lukáš Hrádecký, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapié, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou were the bedrock of the Leverkusen defence, while Leipzig’s defensive unit consisted of a combination of Mohamed Simakan, Castello Lukeba, David Raum, Benjamin Henrichs and Willi Orbán. Janis Blaswich was between the sticks more often last season for Leipzig, but the experienced Péter Gulácsi has since come back in as No.1 following a serious ACL tear.

With Orban suspened for the trip to Leverkusen game, it is likely that either Henrichs or Lukas Klostermann will come in after both started the opening game against Bochum on the bench. For Alonso’s side, it’s expected that we will see the usual back three of Tapsoba, Tah and Hincapié holding down the fort, with Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo bombing up and down the flanks.

Watch: Leipzig 2-3 Leverkusen - previous meeting

With both sides impressing at both ends last season, Saturday's meeting between the two promises to be another entertaining game that will see two title hopefuls go head-to-head in only the second week of the new campaign.

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