RB Leipzig (A) - Wed 22nd Feb, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[KS55]

KDB being out may mean that we go back to a standard back 4, Bernardo pushing into the 8 and Ake back to LB. For me its:

Ederson

Walker - Akanji - Dias - Ake

Rodri

Gundo - Bernardo

Mahrez - Haaland - Grealish

I wouldn't be against Foden playing either, thought he looked good when he played the other night, albeit he should've bagged a couple.

Yes, back 4 best imho. Pity two first choices there are missing, Stones would make all the difference. Not easy, but we can squeeze by. Would take a draw and hope to finish the job in second leg.

 

[RACHACE]

Had a wander to the stadium and it's a piece of piss to get to. 30 minute walk from the main train station so for those who struggle with walking it'd be 10 minutes tops in a taxi. However it's located quite high up from the main road so I imagine there's quite a few steps to get up there.

Some decent looking pubs on route too. One called Sky Pub looked particularly good. Had an RB Leipzig flag hanging outside and a City/Leipzig half and half scarf above the door. Doesn't open till 5pm though but as it's on route to the ground from my digs I think I'll pop in.

Not seen many blues whilst wandering around the centre. Seems a bit of a sedate city on 1st impression but the ground looks decent so the closer it gets to kick off I'm sure it'll wake up a bit.

Have a top day blues.

Fwiw, I'd take a draw and do them in the 2nd leg. These lot look a dangerous side.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Are we in black and Red tonight?

Wouldn't surprise me if it's a narrow scoreline either way which we'll get the result at ours.

 

[Dave El Magico]

Although we have not been at our best recently, I can’t understand the degree of panic on this thread. From what I have seen of Leipzig, they are a decent team with a couple of very good players.
However, the Bundesliga is not the strongest of leagues with the exception of Bayern, Dortmund and a couple of others.
We have enough quality within our squad to win this game, although I do feel that we will miss Kev tonight.
I also don’t understand some of the comments about Alvarez being disappointing. The lad hasn’t had too many opportunities and it is hard to judge his ability to change a game when he is only given 5 or 10 minutes.
Let’s get stuck in tonight and bring back a positive result.

 

[MarsLlama]

Find the Champions League so hard to get excited for these days. It's the only competition I never feel like we're winning.

 

[kaz7]

Find the Champions League so hard to get excited for these days. It's the only competition I never feel like we're winning.

I got sucked in when we got to the final and pep put out a stupid formation and left key players out , last time i will get sucked in again

 

[citymad]

Made me laugh. He's realized you have to express in sign language to make them understand. The smile was total contempt and an attempt to stop him going on any further with the question.

 

[Chris B]

Crazy that the second leg isn’t till the 14th of March, makes it feel more like two league games rather than a two leg knockout.

That aside, they’re clearly a decent side as they gained 12 points in their group games, although 6 of those points were earned against a Scottish side. They did however get a win against Real Madrid, winning 3-2 at home, so they are probably a level above Liverpool’s standard this season.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Although we have not been at our best recently, I can’t understand the degree of panic on this thread. From what I have seen of Leipzig, they are a decent team with a couple of very good players.
However, the Bundesliga is not the strongest of leagues with the exception of Bayern, Dortmund and a couple of others.
We have enough quality within our squad to win this game, although I do feel that we will miss Kev tonight.
I also don’t understand some of the comments about Alvarez being disappointing. The lad hasn’t had too many opportunities and it is hard to judge his ability to change a game when he is only given 5 or 10 minutes.
Let’s get stuck in tonight and bring back a positive result.

That's funny, I'm not reading panic. I'm reading the need to take them seriously. As you always should, for any team that get to this stage of the competition. We stay focussed, we take them seriously, we play at a decent rhythm, and I believe we win this one. Maybe even by a two-goal margin.
But I'd take a draw, no problem.
Agree with you about Álvarez, incidentally. It's forgotten, but people on here were running down Nate Aké the first year he was here, and he hardly bloody played, because of injury! Now looks like one of our most dependable defenders…

 

[hammocity]

On the BBC in the “latest news and reaction” there’s 9 updates on the Rags complete with their badge, all positives for a match tomorrow night in the shitty Europa cup.

Meanwhile for the CL we get one update on KDB and Laporte being injured, one on the stats and one on Upson (Matthew who?) saying Leipzig are the best counter attacking team in Europe despite them being 5th in the League and winning one of their last three games in the fish and chip shop League.

 

[marko2005]

Had a wander to the stadium and it's a piece of piss to get to. 30 minute walk from the main train station so for those who struggle with walking it'd be 10 minutes tops in a taxi. However it's located quite high up from the main road so I imagine there's quite a few steps to get up there.

Some decent looking pubs on route too. One called Sky Pub looked particularly good. Had an RB Leipzig flag hanging outside and a City/Leipzig half and half scarf above the door. Doesn't open till 5pm though but as it's on route to the ground from my digs I think I'll pop in.

Not seen many blues whilst wandering around the centre. Seems a bit of a sedate city on 1st impression but the ground looks decent so the closer it gets to kick off I'm sure it'll wake up a bit.

Have a top day blues.

Fwiw, I'd take a draw and do them in the 2nd leg. These lot look a dangerous side.

well so far, flight cancelled from dusseldorf to berlin euro wings had to get a 6 hour train hit for £126e if all goes well in liepzig 6pm few city fans on this train, left man at 805am, and now we hear we got a strike on public transport in liepzig!!! fin great

 

[handofrod]

I follow the Bundesliga closely and Leipzig have been a hit-or-miss kind of team this season. When on form, they can cause a lot of damage. They can be scary offensively but lack defensively – similar to us. But they also had quite a few questionable performances out of nowhere where they look off and make too many mistakes. The 0-4 against Frankfurt in September is a good example. Huge advantage for us that Nkunku is probably out, if Olmo is as well – perfect. I expect either a close and difficult game, or we batter them. Depends on our matchday form and Pep's approach.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

KDB being out may mean that we go back to a standard back 4, Bernardo pushing into the 8 and Ake back to LB. For me its:

Ederson

Walker - Akanji - Dias - Ake

Rodri

Gundo - Bernardo

Mahrez - Haaland - Grealish

I wouldn't be against Foden playing either, thought he looked good when he played the other night, albeit he should've bagged a couple.

That's a good team, that. Bernardo's Duracell energy, with Gundo's cunning and late runs. Like it. The rock, Rodri, to protect the back line and feed the ball out to the creators (he can do that a bit, himself, while we're about it).
Would have preferred Aymeric in the back line but if he isn't fit, he isn't fit. I also like the front line. Mahrez and Grealish have been in form, and you've got to start them, at least. If it isn't happening up front, we've got Phil and Julián — not too shabby, eh?
All in all, I look at that team and feel fairly confident. If he plays it, of course.
Has Cole Palmer travelled, incidentally? I wouldn't write that lad off too soon because he had two or three not very impressive games.

 

[wolviedinho]

I am quietly confident about tonight. We played really well against forest. Ake will more than likely come in to combat the counter and Bernie in midfield with no Kev. Which lets be honest is a good thing on his recent form. Absolute belter of a player and a match winner on any day but with a team changing up its style the lack of control causing ball turnover has led to some hairy moments at the back. I wouldn’t be surprised if Foden or Jack takes up the middle with Bernie continuing at Lb. The control we have on build up with him outweighs any negatives for me.

I expect plenty of press tonight but if we find ourselves without the ball I am also comfortable and confident we will be able to score.

1-2 win.

 

[JWCH-99]

won’t need public transport to get to ground. It’s walkable from the main train station. Also outside main train station they are doing special shuttles for away fans that take you to our gate.

well so far, flight cancelled from dusseldorf to berlin euro wings had to get a 6 hour train hit for £126e if all goes well in liepzig 6pm few city fans on this train, left man at 805am, and now we hear we got a strike on public transport in liepzig!!! fin great

 

[JWCH-99]

Had a wander to the stadium and it's a piece of piss to get to. 30 minute walk from the main train station so for those who struggle with walking it'd be 10 minutes tops in a taxi. However it's located quite high up from the main road so I imagine there's quite a few steps to get up there.

Some decent looking pubs on route too. One called Sky Pub looked particularly good. Had an RB Leipzig flag hanging outside and a City/Leipzig half and half scarf above the door. Doesn't open till 5pm though but as it's on route to the ground from my digs I think I'll pop in.

Not seen many blues whilst wandering around the centre. Seems a bit of a sedate city on 1st impression but the ground looks decent so the closer it gets to kick off I'm sure it'll wake up a bit.

Have a top day blues.

Fwiw, I'd take a draw and do them in the 2nd leg. These lot look a dangerous side.

Market square also lively with a fair amount of blues congregating in the bars in the top left corner

 

[5 Hit Gibbon]

If we turn up we can beat anyone, but we are so inconsistent at the moment that I have no idea how this game will turn out. Things are going to click and someone is going to get a tonking in the near future, let's hope it's them tonight.

 

[halfcenturyup]

I hope, in the name of all that is holy, that we don't lose tonight, because I can guarantee you all the press has a Panic on the streets of Leipzig headline ready to roll.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!

Or as Vincent Kompany said after Burnley's match at Millwall last night "I'd never accept anyone being more motivated than us."

4-2 City. Thought it yesterday and dreamed the same last night. Vivid dream, saw Foden, Grealish, Haaland & Pep. Uwe Rosler was in the crowd.

 

[shevtheblue]

That's a good team, that. Bernardo's Duracell energy, with Gundo's cunning and late runs. Like it. The rock, Rodri, to protect the back line and feed the ball out to the creators (he can do that a bit, himself, while we're about it).
Would have preferred Aymeric in the back line but if he isn't fit, he isn't fit. I also like the front line. Mahrez and Grealish have been in form, and you've got to start them, at least. If it isn't happening up front, we've got Phil and Julián — not too shabby, eh?
All in all, I look at that team and feel fairly confident. If he plays it, of course.
Has Cole Palmer travelled, incidentally? I wouldn't write that lad off too soon because he had two or three not very impressive games.

If we remember back to a couple seasons ago when Kevin was injured a lot, we won the league with Bernardo & Gundo as 8's and they were both amazing that season.

Palmer has travelled, can't see him coming on though unless something crazy happens with the score..