RB Leipzig vs Borussia Monchengladbach
It seemed unlikely a few weeks ago, but with 12 rounds to play, FC Bayern have failed to pull away in the German title race and Red Bull Leipzig are hot on their heels.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side have climbed to within two points of the top of the Bundesliga table as the Bavarians have uncharacteristically wobbled. And on Saturday they welcome a Borussia Monchengladbach team struggling for form and with a distracted leader.
Leipzig fans will be looking towards Munich for their Bundesliga 2021 updates earlier on Saturday when FC Bayern host Cologne, who are fighting hard to pull away from the relegation battle.
And it will be a big “if” for the strugglers if they can take something away from the league leaders, and then it will be game on!
Talking Points
Goals are everywhere in Leipzig’s team
Here at SBOTOP, we’ve been watching Red Bull closely in recent weeks. And while our Bundesliga 2021 betting odds still back FC Bayern at 1.06 to win the title, Nagelsmann’s side have dropped rapidly to a realistic option at odds of 7.00.
Early in February we said Die Bayern still had plenty of work to do and at that stage they were seven points clear, but Red Bull have been relentless in their pursuit – winning the last four league games.
Marcel Sabitzer in action during RB Leipzig’s match against Hertha Berlin
A Champions League setback in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool was brushed off as Die Roten Bullen took it out on Hertha with a 3-0 victory in Berlin. And after the summer departure of Timo Werner to Chelsea, Nagelsmann will be delighted how his players are all hungry for goals.
Leipzig are certainly sharing the love around with captain and midfield star Marcel Sabitzer is their top scorer with five, while Christopher Nkunku, Yussuf Poulsen, Emil Forsberg, and defenders Willi Orban and Angelino all have four.
The team is in a great position when they don’t rely heavily on one scorer, and wing-back Angelino in particular has been a creative spark since his permanent switch from Manchester City.
As well as scoring freely, Leipzig have been hard to break down with a defence marshalled by Hungarian centre-back Orban keeping 10 clean sheets in their last 15 games and conceding the fewest goals (18) in the Bundesliga.
Die Fohlen must climb back to their feet
The Foals have been stumbling badly in recent weeks without a win in four and languishing down in eighth place, which is nine points behind the Champions League spots and three behind a guaranteed Europa League place.
This time last season, they were in third place and ultimately qualified for the 2020-21 Champions League, but all is not well at the club at the moment.
Head coach Marco Rose has his sights set elsewhere of course, having agreed to join Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season – a move which has angered Gladbach fans and the team seems to have been affected.
Before the recent slump, Die Fohlen were unbeaten in eight matches, winning six.
A Champions League clash with Manchester City wasn’t exactly a relaxing way to prepare for this crucial Bundesliga date, and Die Fohlen succumbed to the Sky Blues 2-0.
They did show some ambition against the Premier League leaders but were forced back by Pep Guardiola’s side who are beating all before them.
Two key players can lift the Foals. Club captain Lars Stindl has scored 10 goals, while midfield man Jonas Hofmann is rarely out of the action and has contributed four goals and nine assists this season.
Monchengladbach are unbeaten in seven away games. And if Stindl and Hofmann are on their game, they could push Leipzig hard on Saturday.
History
Red Bull have had the better of the previous meetings. They’ve won five of the nine head-to-head games, drawing three and losing just one, although that defeat was in the earlier clash this season.
Things were looking good for Die Fohlen when the two teams last met in October, and a goal from midfield man Hannes Wolf gave them a 1-0 victory to keep them in the hunt for a top four place. But a lot has changed since then.
Red Bull and Gladbach last met in Leipzig in an entertaining tussle in February 2020.
After Alassane Plea and Hofmann had put the Foals in charge, Red Bull fought back through Patrik Schick. And after Plea had been sent off, Nkunku grabbed a last-gasp equaliser.
Betting Tip
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RB Leipzig vs Borussia Monchengladbach | RB Leipzig Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.86 |
| February 28, 01:30 (GMT+8) |
At 1.69, Red Bull are clear favourites to win this game and they should have too much for the faltering Foals who are at 4.36, with the draw at 3.64.
And for a correct score line, 2-1 at 6.76 is the most likely outcome.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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The post Bundesliga: Red Bull’s Title Charge is About to Run Over the Foals appeared first on SBOTOP.