Bundesliga: Red Bull Aiming For Second Best

RB Leipzig vs VfB Stuttgart

Not too long ago there was real optimism in Leipzig that 2021 might just be their year, but FC Bayern have put paid to that with a return of 16 points from the last six games.

And that means that Julian Nagelsmann’s side is aiming for second place. With four games remaining, the reigning champions have a 10-point lead at the top of the table and a win away to Mainz on Saturday will take the Bundesliga title back to Bavaria for another 12 months.

But Die Roten Bullen must put that to the back of their minds and concentrate on their next fixture at home to VfB Stuttgart on Sunday afternoon, by which time Die Bayern may well have sealed the deal.

The visitors are in 10th place and still have an outside chance of qualifying for the Europa League, but they are on a three-match losing streak and should be there for the taking if RB Leipzig are on their game.

Talking Points

Leipzig need a fast finish

With Wolfsburg just four points behind and relentless in their pursuit, there is no way Nagelsmann can allow his players to let up.

For sure FC Bayern are homing in on nine Bundesliga titles in a row but for much of this season, Die Roten Bullen have looked like the only team capable of challenging the team which has been so dominant for so long.

A thumping victory over Werder Bremen kept the door open for a late run at the title and the Bundesliga 2021 betting odds took a slight flicker.

But then the flame of hope was quickly extinguished. A draw with Hoffenheim and then a 2-1 defeat to Cologne left Red Bull trailing while FC Bayern’s Bundesliga 2021 results took the expected route of win after win, punctuated by a single draw against the in-form Union Berlin.

Nagelsmann was appointed at Red Bull to lift them up among the elite of Europe and he has done a good job, but he won’t want his team to finish this season with a whimper.

Red Bull went out of the Champions League to tournament favourites Manchester City but they do have hopes of silverware when they take on Werder Bremen in the semifinals of the DFB Pokal German Cup. FC Bayern are out of the competition while Borussia Dortmund face Holstein Kiel in the other semifinal tie.

It all points to a RB Leipzig vs Borussia Dortmund final and that would be some occasion.

A trophy win and a second-placed finish would represent a good season and Nagelsmann has the players to deliver.

Marcel Sabitzer and Christopher Nkunku represent the biggest threat to Stuttgart, but there is plenty of back up from Emil Forsberg, Yussuf Poulsen, and Alexander Sorloth.

If the head coach needs to shake it up, he will. But Sabitzer and the excellent Dani Olmo — who has provided eight assists — are sure starters.

Stuttgart’s punishing run of fixtures

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Stuttgart have been softened up by a brutal sequence of games in the run-up to this match.

Sasa Kalajdzic is Stuttgart’s highest scorer with 14 Bundesliga goals — VfB Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdzic reacts during their Bundesliga game vs Borussia Dortmund

They arrive in Leipzig on the back of a 3-1 defeat at home to Wolfsburg, whose prolific striker Wout Weghorst was on target again. That was followed by a 2-1 defeat to Union Berlin and before that, a 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund.

Matarazzo’s men had enjoyed brief delight when they beat Bremen 1-0. But before that, they were on the end of a 4-0 thumping at the hands of FC Bayern.

To face the top three teams and the fifth in quick succession would test the resolve of any club. The fact they are still just in touch with the European places might just encourage the visitors.

They have a dangerous striker in Sasa Kalajdzic, who has scored 14 times in this campaign, but Stuttgart look set to be without his strike partner Silas Wamangituka and influential defender Borna Sosa.

History

Red Bull have won all but one of their five Bundesliga meetings with these opponents, the exception being a 0-0 draw back in 2018.

In January, Leipzig won 1-0 in Stuttgart, a result which took Julian Nagelsmann’s side top of the Bundesliga table.

Emil Forsberg missed a penalty before Dani Olmo scored the winner midway through the second half with a well-taken volley.

Betting Tip

	RB Leipzig vs VfB Stuttgart	RB Leipzig First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 1.88
	April 25, 21:30 (GMT+8)

Red Bull are hot favourites to win this game at odds of 1.37 with SBOTOP with the draw at 4.36 and a Stuttgart win way out at odds of 7.72.

The hosts will be keen to finish their season strongly to hold on to second place while their visitors have endured a horrific run and are without key players. I think Red Bull could be well in control by halftime.