RB Leipzig are sweating on the fitness of top scorer Antonio Nusa ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga home game against FC Augsburg. Coach Martin Demichelis stated on Thursday that the 21-year-old is at his physical limit following the intense midweek Champions League match.
The coach said the team worked very hard against Manchester City. Two days after the game the players still feel tired. Decisions on various positions will wait until Friday to field a fresh team. Nusa, who scored in the 2-3 defeat to Manchester City on 4 November, was unable to finish the match. The forward only underwent light physiotherapy on Thursday. Demichelis confirmed the player did not train the day before and only warmed up briefly. A final decision is not yet known.
The decision on Nusa's participation will therefore be made on Friday. His absence would be a significant blow for Die Roten Bullen, who enter the match with a perfect home record. Leipzig have yet to concede a league goal at their home arena this season. Their record against Augsburg is particularly dominant, with nine wins from ten Bundesliga home meetings.
Martin Demichelis's side currently sit third in the Bundesliga table with 18 points from nine games, comprising six wins and three defeats. Recent form is strong with four wins from the last five matches. In the most recent meeting with Augsburg, Nusa provided an assist. The team has scored 27 goals this season, with Christopher Nkunku the top scorer on four goals from six appearances.
Should Nusa be ruled out, Demichelis will need to adjust his starting eleven to ensure freshness. Following the Augsburg fixture, the team has an international break before travelling to face 16th-placed Union Berlin on Saturday 21 November. The final squad decision for Saturday's clash will be announced on Friday.
More detail at Nordbayerischer Kurier
