Leipzig duel Hoffenheim as the race for the Champions League continues

RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim – Saturday, April 21, 14:30BST/15:30CEST – Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany

RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim will take place at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Most of the focus will be on Dortmund against Leverkusen, but in the shadow of that match, both Leipzig and Hoffenheim will try to get back into the race for a top-four spot. Fifth place Leipzig (47 points) and sixth place Hoffenheim (46 points) will hope that they can collect the full three points and then can significantly close the gap to the top four with Dortmund and Leverkusen taking points from each other.

For Leipzig, in fact, Champions League is a necessary component to continue the growth of the club. Fuelled by Red Bull die Roten Bullen, in theory, have endless resources. UEFA Financial Fair Play, however, limits Red Bull’s power and Leipzig, therefore, need to bring in revenue to keep the squad together and become a competitor for the likes of Bayern in the medium term.

Hoffenheim, in the meantime, are less dependent on Champions League money. Owned by the billionaire Dietmar Hopp Hoffenheim are envisioned as a stepping stone club that will carry itself financially through player transfers rather than top-down financial investment by its owner.

Managed by the talented 30-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann Hoffenheim finished fourth last season but ultimately failed to qualify for the group stage after being kicked out of the Champions League. Hoffenheim then struggled in the Bundesliga and the Europa League at times until Nagelsmann re-invented himself and his tactics somewhat at the later stages of the season.

Hoffenheim now rotates the squad less and has a more conservative tactical approach. In other words, Nagelsmann has learned from his mistakes and has matured as a coach. As a result, Hoffenheim still have a chance to reach the top four and qualify for the Champions League group stage. To do so, they will have to beat Leipzig on Saturday and then keep up with Dortmund, who they face on the final matchday.

Leipzig, in the meantime, will also go for the full three points to keep up their hopes. In other words, this game is a final, and with both sides playing attacking football it will be an exciting matchup in which both sides will try to go for the three points but will also be somewhat conservative in their approach.

RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim – Players to look out for:

Ademola Lookman #18 – RB Leipzig

In the winter Sam Allardyce tried to talk Ademola Lookman out of going to loan to RB Leipzig. The Everton head coach did not believe that the winger would earn the playing time needed to develop his play. Now three months later Lookman told kicker that he has been happy about going out on loan to Germany. “I have learned more than I expected, especially regarding tactics, physical preparation and technical aspects.” Lookman has scored two goals in seven Bundesliga games enough to convince Leipzig that they would like to hang on to the Everton loanee. But sporting director Ralf Rangnick also explained: “We have no clause to make a move permanent and we won’t have a decision on this matter until the end of the season.

Leipzig would love to make Ademola Lookman’s move permanent. (ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)

Serge Gnabry #29 – 1899 Hoffenheim

Serge Gnabry has been on fire in recent weeks. On loan from Bayern München, the winger has scored nine goals and six assists in 20 games this season for Hoffenheim. In his last six Bundesliga games, Gnabry has managed six goals and two assists highlighting why Bayern are adamant that the winger will have to return at the end of the season. His strong performances, in fact, may come just in time to make a last ditch effort to jump on the World Cup train as well as Gnabry is making a very strong case for himself at the moment.

Serge Gnabry (r.) will be Hoffenheim’s player to watch. (AMELIE QUERFURTH/AFP/Getty Images)

RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim – Match Stats

• Hoffenheim has given up 26 potential points after taking the lead, which is the most among all Bundesliga clubs.
• Leipzig are second in that category with 22 points that were lost after giving away a lead.
• Hoffenheim won the return fixture 4-0, which was Leipzig’s biggest ever Bundesliga defeat.

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim – 2-1

RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim – Lineups

RB Leipzig:

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Gulacsi – Klostermann, Orban, Konaté, Bernardo – Keïta, Demme – Lookman, Forsberg – Augustin, Werner

Head Coach: Ralph Hasenhüttl

Hoffenheim:

Formation: 3-5-2

Baumann – Akpoguma, Vogt, Hübner – Kaderabek, Schulz – Grilitsch – Amiri, Demirbay – Kramarić, Gnabry

Head Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Manuel Veth is the owner and Editor in Chief of the Futbolgrad Network. He also works as a freelance journalist and among others works for the Bundesliga and Pro Soccer USA. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in History from King’s College London, and his thesis is titled: “Selling the People’s Game: Football’s transition from Communism to Capitalism in the Soviet Union and its Successor States,” which is available HERE. Originally from Munich, Manuel has lived in Amsterdam, Kyiv, Moscow, Tbilisi, London, and currently is located in Victoria BC, Canada.  Follow Manuel on Twitter @ManuelVeth. Or contact him via email: manuelveth@futbolgrad.com.