Stefan Effenberg predicts major problems for RB Leipzig following the Champions League group stage draw. The TV pundit expressed serious doubts about the German club's chances of advancing in Europe's premier competition. The draw took place on Thursday evening, setting up a challenging schedule for Leipzig against opponents like Manchester City and Real Madrid. The 58-year-old Effenberg stated bluntly: "RB Leipzig will have major problems."
Marco Rose's side will face Manchester City (home), Real Madrid (away), PSV Eindhoven (home), Manchester United (away), Shakhtar Donetsk (home), Feyenoord Rotterdam (away), RC Lens (home), and Como 1907 (away) in the group phase. This European campaign follows a 2025 Bundesliga season where RB Leipzig finished third with 65 points. The club recorded 20 wins, five draws, and nine losses from 34 matches, scoring 66 goals while conceding 47.
Why Effenberg is skeptical about RB Leipzig
Stefan Effenberg, a former head coach of SC Paderborn, bases his cautious outlook on recent history. "A lot would have to go right for RB Leipzig to reach the next round," the former professional said. He specifically referenced the 2024/25 Champions League season, where Leipzig lost seven of their eight matches. While Effenberg doesn't believe it will be quite that bad this time, the memory of that disappointing campaign hangs over the squad.
RB Leipzig's recent form, marked by a LWLWW record in their last five Bundesliga games of the previous season, offers limited cause for excessive optimism in Europe. The club finished 24 points behind champions Bayern Munich in the last title race. These numbers highlight the gap to the absolute European elite they must now compete against. Fans can track the upcoming challenges in detail on our fixtures page.
How Effenberg rates the other German clubs
Beyond RB Leipzig, Stefan Effenberg also assessed the prospects of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. For BVB, who face Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Aston Villa, the expert sees a tough task as well. Dortmund would have to go to their absolute limit in every match to advance. Effenberg assumes they will progress, but only with difficulty and possibly greater struggles.
His forecast for FC Bayern is completely different. For the Munich side, who meet Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, and Manchester United among others, Effenberg is firmly convinced of a trouble-free passage to the next round. Advancing should be a clear expectation for the record champions, according to his statement. These differing assessments reveal the hierarchy the expert sees in German football.
What the draw means for the season planning
The demanding Champions League group arrives as RB Leipzig already has a competitive fixture on Friday, 29 August 2026. The third-placed team from last season then hosts Borussia Mönchengladbach, who are twelfth in the table, at the Red Bull Arena. This tightly packed schedule requires smart rotation and deep squad quality. Coach Marco Rose must skillfully distribute his resources between the domestic league and the top European competition.
A complete overview of the personnel options is available on our squad page. The statistical record of the past season, including the 20 wins and a positive goal difference of +19, forms the foundation the team must build upon during this dual burden. The coming weeks will show whether the team can overcome the problems predicted by Effenberg or if memories of 2024/25 are revived.
