RB Leipzig vs. Hamburger SV preview: Hosts looking to extend unbeaten streak | OneFootball

RB Leipzig

Leipzig have put together a strong run of form since falling to a heavy 6-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season. Ole Werner's side went on to record four consecutive victories before they played out a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund. Christoph Baumgartner saw his opener cancelled out by Yan Couto, ensuring Leipzig’s winning run came to an end.

Die Roten Bullen will head into the weekend in third place in the Bundesliga table, with four points separating them from leaders Bayern Munich. Leipzig will fancy their chances of adding to their 13-point tally this weekend, having avoided defeat in all 37 of their previous meetings against newly-promoted opposition (W32, D5). They have already beaten one newly-promoted team this season, claiming a 3-1 victory over Köln in their last home outing.

Leipzig have also won four of their six competitive meetings with Hamburg (D1, L1), including a dominant 4-0 DFB-Pokal victory in their most recent encounter in October 2022.

Team News

The hosts are unable to call upon Kosta Nedeljković and Benjamin Henrichs. Max Finkgräfe has returned to training following a spell on the sidelines, but he will not be ready for Saturday’s home fixture.

Predicted lineup: Gulácsi; Baku, Orbán, Castello, Raum; Ouédraogo, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Bakayoko, Diomande, Rômulo

Hamburg

Hamburg made a sluggish start to their first Bundesliga campaign since 2017-18, taking just one point from their opening three matches. However, they have since managed to spark an upturn in fortunes, having collected seven points from their last three games. Merlin Polzin’s side claimed a narrow 2-1 win over Heidenheim, before playing out a goalless draw with Union Berlin.

HSV then cruised to a dominant 4-0 victory over Mainz in their most recent outing, thanks to a Rayan Philippe brace as well as goals from Albert Sambi Lokonga and Jean-Luc Dompé. After recording a second successive home win, Hamburg will return from the international break with hopes of clinching their first away league victory of the season. As it stands, HSV are just one of three Bundesliga teams yet to win on their travels this term.

If are to claim all three points, they will have to get the better of Leipzig for the first time since running out 3-0 winners in February 2017.

Team News

Hamburg are without the injured Giorgi Gocholeishvili and Warmed Omari, while  Fabio Vieira will serve the second game of a two-match ban. Yussuf Poulsen could make his first Bundesliga appearance since August, although the former Leipzig forward is not expected to be risked from the start.

Predicted lineup: Fernandes; Capaldo, Vušković, Elfadli; Mikelbrencis, Sambi, Remberg, Muheim; Philippe, Dompé, Königsdörffer