When RB Leipzig hosts Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals on Wednesday, they will be looking to defend their title.
Team Form
RB Leipzig
Last weekend, Leipzig suffered a frustrating defeat in the Bundesliga against Mainz 05, losing 3-0 at home. The result was especially disappointing since a win would have allowed them to overtake Freiburg in the Champions League qualification race. However, Freiburg could only secure a 1-1 draw against Hertha Berlin.
The recent form of Die Roten Bullen has been below par, with four losses in their last five games in all competitions. This represents coach Marco Rose’s toughest period since taking charge last September.
Rose has yet to win a major trophy as a manager in German football. Therefore, he will understand that retaining the DFB-Pokal presents Leipzig’s best chance of success this season, even if they qualify for the Champions League.
RB Leipzig Form (All Competition): L W L L L
Borussia Dortmund
Over the weekend, Borussia Dortmund suffered a setback in their quest for their first Bundesliga title in a decade, losing 4-2 to reigning champions Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. However, despite the defeat, they remain in the title race, sitting only two points behind Bayern at the top of the table. They face a challenging test against fellow contenders Union Berlin this weekend, which could be crucial in their title aspirations.
Despite the upcoming fixture, Dortmund’s interim head coach, Edin Terzic, will prioritize all opportunities to win silverware. He will look to keep his team motivated and focused, especially since they won this competition two seasons ago.
Furthermore, with a victory over Leipzig in the past month, Terzic and his players will be confident of securing a spot in the semi-finals.
Borussia Dortmund Form (All Competitions): W L D W L
Squad Report
RB Leipzig
Leipzig is facing a dilemma regarding including Christopher Nkunku, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. With their hopes of finishing in the top four severely dented by their recent loss to Mainz, Leipzig may not rush the French midfielder back into action.
On the injury front, Peter Gulasci, Xaver Schlager, and Yussuf Poulsen are all still unavailable due to long-term injuries.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund must make do without several key players for their upcoming match. Thomas Meunier, Mateu Morey, Julian Duranville, and Abdoulaye Kamara are all nursing injuries and are unavailable for selection.
In addition, Nico Schlotterbeck picked up a hip injury during their recent clash with Bayern Munich and is expected to be out of action until later this month.
RB Leipzig’s expected starting lineup:
Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Laimer, Haidara; Szoboszlai, Olmo; Silva, Werner
Borussia Dortmund’s expected starting lineup:
Meyer; Morey, Sule, Hummels, Guerreiro; Ozcan, Can, Bellingham; Brandt, Moukoko, Malen
Head to Head
Regarding head-to-head matchups between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, history is on the latter’s side.
Of the 15 times the two teams have faced each other, Borussia Dortmund has emerged victorious on eight occasions, while RB Leipzig has won five times. The remaining two games resulted in draws.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Wednesday, April 05
Time: 06:45 pm, UTC
Venue: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
Prediction
The upcoming match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund promises to be a thrilling cup tie, with both teams fully aware of the importance of the DFB-Pokal in terms of their chances of winning a trophy this season.
After Dortmund’s disappointing loss to Bayern Munich last weekend, they may feel the defeat’s effects. On the other hand, Leipzig will be hoping that their home advantage will play a pivotal role in keeping their hopes of retaining the cup alive.
