Arminia Bielefeld handed themselves a lifeline in their bid to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga when they registered what could prove to be a vital 2-1 win away from home at Bayer Leverkusen on the weekend, and they now return to their Schuco Arena for another important clash against high-flying RB Leipzig.
Prior to that desperately needed win, Arminia Bielefeld had struggled in the German top flight as they’d failed to win any of their preceding seven matches overall, losing five of these and picking up just two points from the possible 21 on offer thanks to draws with Bayern Munich 3-3 and Union Berlin 0-0.
Results at home have come in fits and starts as Arminia Bielefeld have won four of their total of six wins on home turf, but the hosts have also drawn 1 and lost 8 so far this season too which puts them on the back foot here.
Just two wins out of their last eight at home doesn’t bode well and neither do various absentees with defenders De Medina (suspended) and Laursen (injured) along with midfielders Yabo, Edmundsson and Soukou also expected to miss out.
RB Leipzig were held to a 1-1 draw at home with Eintracht Frankfurt on the weekend in the Bundesliga and although that point extended Leipzig’s unbeaten run in the German top flight to seven matches.
The visitors now find themselves four points behind the league leaders, Bayern Munich.
This upcoming fixture represents a ‘must-win’ situation for RB Leipzig if they’re to stay in touch with Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga and having won six of their last seven matches.
The visitors stand a decent chance of picking up an important three points here.
In addition, RB Leipzig have won their last three away matches on the trot with victories collected at Schalke 3-0, Hertha Berlin 3-0 and another 3-0 win at Freiburg.
They also stand a good chance of also beating the -1 asian handicap line too on Friday night at Arminia Bielefeld.
The visitors look set to be without defenders Upamecano and Angelino who are both injured.
RB Leipzig have also won two of the previous three encounters against Arminia Bielefeld and will be pushing for all three points here in their race for the title so the visitors look set for the points in this one.