RB Leipzig put their perfect home record this season to the test in the Champions League on Wednesday as they host Manchester City at the Red Bull Arena. Head coach Martín Demichelis faces the club where he spent three years as a player for the first time.
The Saxony side have won all five of their home matches this term and are on a run of ten consecutive victories on their own ground. They defend that record from a position of strength, sitting fourth in the Bundesliga with 15 points from eight games and trailing leaders Bayern München by just three points. Recent form shows three wins in a row, most recently a 2-0 away victory at FC Schalke 04 last Saturday, with goals from Antonio Nusa and Rômulo. This winning run followed two defeats against Real Madrid and Bayern München.
Demichelis' personal touch
The Argentine coach is looking forward to the fixture with particular anticipation. "It's a special game because I played there and have many memories," Demichelis said. He stressed, however, that the focus is entirely on the sporting task. The team will be without injured key players Xavi Simons and Benjamin Šeško, both listed on the injuries page.
For the visitors, the absence of Rodri, who departed for FC Barcelona in the summer, will be felt. City's attacking threat remains formidable with 40 goals in 15 competitive games, led by top scorer Erling Haaland on 13. For Leipzig, Willi Orbán could make his 42nd Champions League appearance, bringing experience to the back line.
Nkunku as historic weapon
A positive omen for Die Roten Bullen is the memory of Christopher Nkunku's hat-trick against Manchester City back in 2021. The French forward is currently the team's top scorer this season with four goals in six appearances. His quality will be needed to breach a resilient City defence.
Tactical preparations for Wednesday's match (21:00 local time) are in full swing ahead of a weekend Bundesliga home game against 10th-placed FC Augsburg. A look at the current fixtures schedule shows this demanding double-header. The team has scored 22 goals and conceded only 11 in the league this season, giving them a goal difference of plus eleven. For Demichelis and his squad, the message is clear: the streak at the Red Bull Arena must continue even against European elite.
On Monday, defender Maxime Esteve said of coach Martín Demichelis: "You see the aura of his competitiveness." Esteve made the statement on November 2. The team, sitting fourth in the Bundesliga with 15 points, is preparing for the Champions League match against Manchester City.
