Leipzig (dpa) -
- Defender Willi Orban will be missing for RB Leipzig in Leverkusen on Saturday (18:30/Sky) following his red card in the season opener. He could be replaced by Lukas Klostermann or Mohamed Simakan could move from the right-back position to central defense.
- The Leipzig coach has admired his colleague Xabi Alonso from the outset. "His development as a coach is fantastic, I don't begrudge him his success," said Rose at the last meeting. Now he expects the champions to be even stronger. He has "added experience and quality. The Leipzig coach is 1:3 behind in the direct coaching duel, but apart from the coaches new to the Bundesliga this season, Rose (1.9) has the best points average behind Alonso (2.3).
- Even if the Bundesliga record speaks in favor of RB with seven wins, five defeats and four draws, RB have lost the last three duels. The last home win (2-0) came in October 2022, before which the Saxons achieved their last away win (1-0) in April 2022.
- The match between the two teams has never ended in a draw. That speaks for the attacking lines on both sides. For Leipzig, Lois Openda even scored in both pre-season games against Bayer in his first season for RB.
- There was an unexpected reunion in Leverkusen with ex-Leipzig player Nordi Mukiele. The German champions have loaned the defender from Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season. Mukiele played for the Saxons in the Bundesliga from 2018 to 2022. However, Patrik Schick, who played for Leipzig in 2019/20, also switched sides. Former Leverkusen players Kevin Kampl and Benjamin Henrichs went in the other direction.
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