RB Leipzig will go in search of a third successive Bundesliga victory when they entertain winless Augsburg at Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Marco Rose's men secured an impressive 3-0 away victory over Union Berlin before the international break, while Fuggerstadter were held to a 2-2 draw by VfL Bochum last time out.
Match preview
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It is safe to say that RB Leipzig could not have dreamed of a better way to start the 2023-24 campaign, as the Saxony outfit crushed perennial champions Bayern Munich 3-0 in the DFL-Supercup, with Dani Olmo netting a hat-trick at the Allianz Arena.
The Red Bulls suffered a 3-2 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season, with new signing Lois Openda joining Olmo on the scoresheet, but Rose's side swiftly returned to winning ways by securing back-to-back victories.
Olmo and Openda found the back of the net once again as RB Leipzig thrashed Stuttgart 5-1, before a brace from Benjamin Sesko inspired a 3-0 win against Union Berlin last time out, with the visitors limiting the hosts to a solitary attempt on target in the capital.
Thanks to a strong end to the previous campaign, Leipzig have lost just seven of their last 42 matches across all competitions, and they have also won each of their previous seven games at Red Bull Arena, highlighting their strength on home soil.
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By contrast, Augsburg endured a hugely disappointing start to the season as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Unterhaching in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, despite racking up 16 shots while enjoying the lion's share of possession against the third-tier minnows.
Unfortunately for Fuggerstadter, that result set the tone for the opening weeks of the Bundesliga campaign, as Enrico Maassen's side managed to take just two points from their first three matches before the international break to remain winless in 2023-24.
Following a wild 4-4 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on the opening weekend, Augsburg suffered a 3-1 defeat to Bavarian rivals Bayern Munich before throwing away the lead on two occasions to draw 2-2 with VfL Bochum, facing a barrage of 21 shots last time out.
When you look at the bigger picture, Augsburg have managed to win just five of their last 31 matches in all competitions, while Fuggerstadter avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last term, finishing one point clear of the bottom three after winning only nine of their 34 league outings in 2022-23.
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Team News
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RB Leipzig's lengthy injury list contains Peter Gulacsi (knee), Amadou Haidara (calf), Willi Orban (knee), Mohamed Simakan (calf) and El Chadaille Bitshiabu (knee), while in-form playmaker Dani Olmo is also expected to miss Saturday's clash.
Having scored four goals in five games this season, Olmo will be missed by the hosts, but Marco Rose can call upon other attacking stars such as Lois Openda, Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko.
Lining up in a 4-2-2-2 formation, Xaver Schlager and Kevin Kampl will sit in front of the backline, with Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum occupying the full-back spots.
Augsburg have several injury absentees of their own, including Raphael Framberger (knee), Sven Michel (groin), Masaya Okugawa, Frederik Winther (ankle) and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Japhet Tanganga (knee).
Dion Beljo has scored two goals in four games this season, while Ermedin Demirovic has contributed one goal and three assists, so they will continue in attack with support from Ruben Vargas and Phillip Tietz.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Henrichs, Simakan, Klostermann, Raum; Schlager, Kampl; Simons, Poulsen; Openda, Sesko
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Engles, Bauer, Uduokhai, Pedersen; Rexbecaj, Dorsch; Vargas, Demirovic; Beljo, Tietz
We say: RB Leipzig 4-1 Augsburg
While RB Leipzig have scored 10 goals in three Bundesliga games this season, Augsburg have already conceded nine times, failing to taste victory along the way.
With that in mind, we expect the Red Bulls to notch another high-scoring win on Saturday, extending Augsburg's winless run in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
