Bayern Munich: Three positional battles to watch for against RB Leipzig
By Daniel Garza
Bayern Munich hit the road on Saturday to face RB Leipzig in a top-of-the-table clash. There will be many top-class players involved in this match and they will be looking to have an impact on the final outcome.
Saturday is set to be an exciting tactical battle between two managers. The last game between these two sides was entertaining. Along with tactics, there will be few interesting matchups to follow in this game. Here are three key positional battles to watch for ahead of the big match.
Dani Olmo vs. Thomas Muller.
These two attacking midfielders have been among the best in the Bundesliga when it comes to goal and shot creation. According to Football Reference, Olmo currently ranks fourth in shot-creating actions and sixth in goal-creating actions. Muller ranks first in both of these statistical categories and also leads the league in assists. On Saturday, they will both looking to create goals and produce the deciding moment of the match.
Muller had a massive impact in the last meeting between these two clubs as he scored a brace in the 3-3 draw that took place on Matchday Ten. Olmo had entered as a second-half substitute in the match but this time around he should be in the starting 11. Keep an eye on these shot and goal creators as they could be involved in the scoring that will likely take place in this match.
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Joshua Kimmich vs. Marcel Sabitzer
The battle between two of Bundesliga’s best midfielders will be exciting to watch. Kimmich and Sabitzer have been key players for their respective clubs this season. Despite being a midfielder, Sabitzer has been able to become one of the top goal scorers for Leipzig. He currently is tied for the team lead in goals scored in the Bundesliga.
Kimmich has been delivering pinpoint passes for Bayern as he has recorded an impressive ten assists in 19 appearances. With Robert Lewandowski out of the lineup, this has the potential for a player such as Kimmich to rise to the occasion and lead the way to victory for Die Roten on Saturday. However, Sabitzer will be certainly be looking to be the one who helps guide Leipzig to a massive three points.
Manuel Neuer vs. Peter Gulasci
There will likely be scoring opportunities in this match that require the goalkeepers to make big saves. For this reason, Neuer and Gulasci both could have the opportunity to produce a defining moment in the final outcome of the match.
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The last time Bayern and Leipzig faced each other Gulasci finished with two saves while Neuer recorded one. With Gulasci leading the way in clean sheets in the Bundesliga, he will be looking to register his biggest shutout of the season on Saturday. Keep an eye on the battle between the two goalkeepers as they will likely play a major role in how this fixture finishes.