RB Leipzig v Manchester United
Tuesday 08 December, 20:00
Live on BT Sport
Leipzig eager to take the following step
Saturday’s chaotic 3-3 draw at Bayern Munich represented progress of kinds for RB Leipzig. It was the primary time they’ve scored within the Allianz Arena, and it was their fourth consecutive Bundesliga draw towards the report champions. It might have been an excellent higher end result – Die Roten Bullen twice led in Munich, solely to be pegged again on each events. Leipzig are third in Germany’s prime flight, two factors behind Bayern.
Intriguingly, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann admits he had an eye fixed on this must-win conflict with Manchester United, even in a recreation towards a direct title rival. Nagelsmann made a flurry of substitutions after the break, disrupting the circulation of his facet. In the tip, a draw was in all probability a good end result.
It’s value taking into account simply how necessary this conflict is for Leipzig.
Having had a watershed second final time period by beating Atletico Madrid within the UCL quarter-finals, they now need to be sure they attain the knockout part each season. Nagelsmann is bold, and so are Red Bull, though the membership’s coverage of primarily signing younger expertise with a view to promoting it on sooner or later ties his palms to some extent. The lack of 28-goal prime scorer Timo Werner to Chelsea was an anticipated but hefty blow, and the failure to shut out a everlasting deal for Czech ahead Patrik Schick did not go down effectively with the coach. None of the brand new forwards have actually proven they might help fill the void but, though Justin Kluivert did rating his first Leipzig objective towards Bayern.
Konrad Laimer, Benjamin Henrichs and Lukas Klostermann are all nonetheless sidelined, whereas wonderful French centre-back Dayot Upamecano is suspended. Leipzig have the depth to switch him, with Willi Orban, Marcel Halstenberg and Ibrahima Konate all candidates to step in.
Inconsistent United have to point out their high quality
As Olympic swimming celebrity Michael Phelps as soon as famously said, it is not the way you begin that is necessary, it is the way you end. Remarkably, Manchester United discover themselves one defeat from Champions League elimination, having began the part with an excellent and totally deserved victory towards PSG in Paris and a 5-0 hammering of Leipzig at Old Trafford. A careless defeat in Turkey towards Istanbul Basaksehir slowed their momentum, and final week they misplaced the reverse towards PSG, a recreation they may have received had they been extra scientific in entrance of objective. Anthony Martial’s miss at 1-1 would be the defining second of their UCL marketing campaign in the event that they crash out in jap Germany.
United have received 5 of their final six video games in all competitions, and at their finest, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s males are unplayable in assault.
They blew West Ham away within the second half of their 3-1 win on Saturday on the London Stadium, and so they produced a stirring comeback at Southampton earlier than that. In principle, this recreation ought to be completely arrange for his or her speedy counter-attacks, as Leipzig must push for the win, and have a tendency to present opponents an opportunity. However, United even have a nasty behavior of switching off, simply as they did in Turkey.
Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani are injured, whereas Fred is suspended after his uncanny impression of a wrecking ball towards Paris final week.
Leipzig too quick to take the win they want
RB Leipzig have received all of their residence matches this season throughout the Champions League and Bundesliga, however I feel that has dragged down their worth within the Match Odds market too far to 2.47/5. They beat Paris however made an terrible begin, and so they have had a fairly light run of home video games on residence soil. I feel they’re lacking the chew and power of the injured Laimer in midfield, and you will get in behind the cavalier Angelino on the Leipzig left.
We should not be distracted by United’s 5-0 win towards RBL at Old Trafford, because the German facet have been very a lot within the recreation at 1-0 within the second half, however I do assume the guests will get plenty of probabilities on the counter, and a visit to the largely empty Red Bull Arena will not be intimidating.
I’ll again United/Draw Double Chance and Over 2.5 Goals at 2.747/4 on the Sportsbook’s Same Game Multi. All 5 of United’s UCL video games this time period have seen an Over 2.5 Goals wager land.
If you simply need a objectives wager, you possibly can do worse than backing Over 3.5 Goals at 2.56/4. Leipzig must push for the win, and I am unable to see United being circumspect right here, as a result of they don’t seem to be adequate defensively to simply dig in for the draw they want. Leipzig’s final two video games have been a 4-3 win and a 3-3 draw.
Rashford to hang-out Leipzig once more
Marcus Rashford is buying and selling at 3.3512/5 to score at any time, and that is far too beneficiant a worth. He has scored in three of his final 4 appearances, and bagged a hat-trick within the reverse fixture. His velocity can be an important weapon for United on the break.
On the Leipzig facet of issues, Emil Forsberg is taking part in a few of his finest soccer this time period. He scored at Bayern, takes penalties and free-kicks, and is taking part in a bit additional ahead at occasions this season. He is buying and selling at a pretty 3.613/5.