RB Leipzig face a must-win run-in
It is looking increasingly likely that RB Leipzig will not be contesting the title this season, but it is not over just yet. Can they reignite their chances on Tuesday as Hertha Berlin come to town? Have a read of our preview here:
RB Leipzig still have hope…just
Being hard to beat this season may not end up being good enough for Julian Naglesmann’s side. He has watched his charges play out an excellent campaign and, at the time of writing, they have lost just once in the last seventeen matches.
They face Mainz on Sunday before hosting Hertha Berlin in the early kick-off on Wednesday evening. They beat Mainz 8-0 in the reverse fixture back in November, and boy how they could do with another performance like that.
Prior to their game at the weekend, they had drawn three straight games leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the players and staff.
Their ability to kill off teams, a trait that had put them in such a strong position back at the end of January, has seemingly deserted them over the last eight games where they have picked up just two wins. They have only lost one, but five draws in that time has seen them fall away from both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
With the latter beating Frankfurt on Saturday, RB now trail the table-toppers by 10-points and even if they do beat Mainz on Sunday, the seven-point gap would still be like trying to climb a mountain while giving Steve Bruce a piggyback.
Facing a Hertha side fresh from a derby victory of Union is probably not the ideal match up for Nagelsmann’s stumbling charges.
Hertha own those bragging rights
Hertha will be might relieved they managed to secure a convincing victory over their city rivals last Friday. Not only did it take them to four games unbeaten but it also put a gap between themselves and Union Berlin that will make them feel a lot more comfortable heading to Leipzig on Wednesday.
It has been an up and down season from the capital club, but a recent improvement that has seen them not only win the derby but also thrash Hoffenheim and get draws against Werder Bremen and Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Defender Dedryck Boyata is probably their key man. The Belgian defender has been solid in his 22 league appearances this season while veteran forward Vedad Ibisevic has notched five goals in just 10 starts.
Top scorer Dodi Lukebakio, also from Belgium, is the side’s top scorer with six and has been a threat this season while Marvin Plattenhardt has been more than decent down the left.
This is a solid team and they may well fancy their chances of getting something out of a stuttering RB Leipzig side.
RB Leipzig vs Hertha Berlin betting tip
With Leipzig out of form, they may struggle against an upbeat Hertha Berlin despite being heavy favourites. That’s why we are backing double chance Hertha Berlin to win or draw at odds of 2.87 with Betfair.
Post bet chat James's Tips:
This was a cracker, ending in a 2-2 draw and landing this bet at decent value