RB Leipzig are set to take on fellow Bundesliga side St Pauli at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
Leipzig are currently second in the league with 20 points after eight matchweeks and beat Rot-Weiss Essen 4-1 in the first round of the competition in August, while the visitors are third last in 16th place with five points and occupy the division's relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
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Die Roten Bullen beat Freiburg 3-1 on Saturday, a match in which they trailed 1-0 after 15 minutes, but three second-half goals ensured that Tuesday's hosts maintained their unbeaten start in the league.
Marco Rose's Leipzig have a strong recent history in the DFB-Pokal, winning the competition in 2021-22 and 2022-23, while also finishing as runners-up in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Rose's side have scored 14 times and conceded on just three occasions in the Bundesliga, and though their offensive record is only the joint seventh best in the division, they do boast the best defence in the top flight.
Leipzig have won four and lost two of their last six games in all competitions, with the defeats coming in the Champions League against Juventus early this month and Liverpool on October 23.
The hosts have lost two and won one of their three most recent home matches but have triumphed in seven and drawn three of their last 10 domestic games at Red Bull Arena.
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St Pauli drew 0-0 with Leipzig on September 22 and were arguably unfortunate to have not taken three points on the day considering they produced 1.38 xG, more than double what Die Roten Bullen created.
The away side drew 0-0 with Wolfsburg on Saturday in the league, and though they produced nine shots from inside the box against the Wolves, they created no big chances in the game.
Boss Alexander Blessin said that he was pleased with his team's performance, saying that the only thing missing from their showing was a goal.
St Pauli beat fourth-tier side Hallescher FC in the first round of the DFB-Pokal this season, but it should be noted that Adam Dzwigala scored a 94th-minute equaliser to salvage the game for Blessin's team, before Lars Ritzka scored a winner in extra time in the 110th minute.
The visitors have lost five and drawn two of their last eight fixtures and have been beaten in three of their four most recent away games this term, scoring five times and conceding six goals.
Team News
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The hosts will be unable to select midfielder Xaver Schlager until January 2025, while left-back David Raum is not scheduled to return until December.
Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is also injured, as are midfielders Nicolas Seiwald and Xavi Simons, while Forzan Assan Ouedraogo is a doubt.
In their absence, Rose could field a midfield four featuring Christoph Baumgartner, Amadou Haidara, Arthur Vermeeren and Eljif Elmas.
Maarten Vandevoordt is likely to replace Gulacsi behind centre-backs Lukas Klostermann and Willi Orban.
St Pauli will be without several players including Alexander Voll, who is not available as a result of a broken jaw.
Elias Saad is not expected to return until January 2025, while Conor Metcalfe, Sascha Burchert, Simon Zoller and Soren Ahlers are scheduled to make their comebacks from injury in November.
Hauke Wahl, Eric Smith and Karol Mets may start in a back three on Tuesday behind a midfield two consisting of Jackson Irvine and Carlo Boukhalfa.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Vandevoordt; Geertruida, Klostermann, Orban, Henrichs; Baumgartner, Haidara, Vermeeren, Elmas; Sesko, Poulsen
St Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Mets; Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Treu; Afolayan, Eggestein, Albers
We say: RB Leipzig 1-0 St Pauli
Though Leipzig have not been particularly prolific in front of goal, their defensive record is exceptional, and they could keep a clean sheet on Tuesday.
Additionally, given the hosts' strong pedigree in the DFB-Pokal in recent seasons, it would be surprising if they were eliminated at such an early stage of the competition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
