“Even if Bayern…”: RB star issues a challenge | OneFootball

RB Leipzig has its sights set on the top spots ahead of the start of the new Bundesliga season. Captain David Raum makes it clear that the team intends to challenge for the top spot despite FC Bayern’s strength.

FC Bayern once again enters the new Bundesliga season as the heavy favorite to win the German championship. However, the competition has no intention of letting the Munich team have it all without a fight. After a disappointing season last year, RB Leipzig has set its sights high.

During the official season opener in front of about 12,000 fans at the Festwiese, captain David Raum and coach Martin Demichelis set out ambitious goals. Raum explicitly set his sights on the record-holding German champions.

“We’re setting our sights high; we have big plans. We want to compete at the top of the Bundesliga, even if Bayern is in a league of its own,” the German national team player explained, according to BILD.

For Leipzig, the competitive season begins with a DFB Cup match against Eintracht Trier. Raum hopes his team won’t have to “sweat it out” in that game. A week later, the Bundesliga season kicks off with a home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The goal there is clear as well: Leipzig wants to “start with a home win” and “play beautiful soccer” throughout the season.

Demichelis wants to lead Leipzig to the Champions League

We already got a first glimpse of the current balance of power between Bayern and Leipzig last weekend. In a preseason friendly in Munich, Vincent Kompany’s team defeated RB 3–1.

Despite the loss, Demichelis drew a positive conclusion: “We showed against Bayern that we’ve come a step further than we were a week ago. The guys are fired up and hungry,” explained the former Bayern pro.

For the 45-year-old, it’s clear that Leipzig must return to Europe’s premier competition this season. “We have to secure a Champions League spot. We’re not the favorites in the Champions League itself, but we want to play with courage in every match. And traveling to Berlin is always nice,” said Demichelis.

Photo: Getty Images

Reaching the DFB Cup final is therefore “another goal.”

Kevin Kampl also supports Leipzig’s ambitious goals. The longtime RB pro announced at the season opener that he hopes to return to work for the club after his break.

“I want to stay in soccer. And Leipzig is where I want to work. I’m itching to get back out there—I want to do something again,” Kampl explained.

The former midfielder even continues to believe that Leipzig will one day leave Bayern and the rest of the competition behind and win the championship for the first time: “I’ve always said that RB will be German champions someday. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to experience it as a player, but I’ll be there in a different role.”