RB Leipzig failed to win their last three Bundesliga matches against Koln ahead of this weekend’s clash. The 2019-20 season was the last time that RB Leipzig managed a win versus the Billy Goats in the league.
On Friday night, RB Leipzig are aiming to end that three-match winless streak against Koln at the Red Bull Arena. Die Roten Bullen are seventh in the division and three points off of fourth place. Last weekend, RB Leipzig fell 3-2 in a thrilling match versus Bayern Munich.
The defeat ended the team’s three-match league winning streak. Coach Domenico Tedesco will hope the side can rebound at home against Koln.
Koln are one point and place in the Bundesliga table ahead of RB Leipzig. The Billy Goats are unbeaten in back-to-back Bundesliga matches. Koln are one of the Bundesliga’s most in-form teams having taken 13 points from the last 18 points available.
RB Leipzig, on the other hand, picked up 10 points from their last six games. The two sides are in a battle for the final Champions League qualification place.
Koln have never qualified for the Champions League. Their last appearance in the tournament’s predecessor, the UEFA European Cup, was in 1978-79 when they reached the semifinals.
In the teams’ reverse fixture, Anthony Modeste opened the scoring for Koln on 53 minutes. They couldn’t hold the lead as RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara levelled the game 18 minutes later.
Since 2016, these teams have met nine times in the Bundesliga. RB Leipzig posted a record of 4W-3D-2L across those nine meetings in the league.
Die Roten Bullen have been good at home this season in the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig have a home record of 8W-0D-3L with a goal difference of +18.
Koln are unbeaten in five straight road games. Their away record in the league this season stands at 2W-5D-3L, however. The Billy Goats have struggled to turn draws into wins.
Tedesco has just two players on the Leipzig injury list. Defender Marcel Halstenberg and midfielder Marcelo Sarracchi are both ruled out of the match.
Koln coach Steffen Baumgart missed last weekend’s game due to a positive COVID-19 test. A video of Baumgart went viral of him watching the team play from his home. Baumgart watched the game in his living room just as he would have coached it.
Baumgart is unlikely to have defender Julian Chabot available due to a positive COVID-19 test. Otherwise, the Koln coach has a full-strength team.
Koln maybe unbeaten against Leipzig in three straight games, but since Tedesco took over the reins at the Red Bull Arena, Die Roten Bullen have played well. Leipzig should get back to winning ways on Friday night at home versus Koln with over 2.5 goals being scored.