Nerves in the control room? A test of character for RB Leipzig

After the Bayern trauma, RB Leipzig must bounce back against Real Madrid of all teams. Coach Martín Demichelis’s team faces a massive test of character at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu following their 1-6 loss in Munich during their Champions League away match. “The bosses in Salzburg at headquarters are already a bit nervous,” said Lothar Matthäus, Germany’s all-time leading international.

Another defeat in the group stage of Europe’s premier soccer competition against coach José Mourinho’s star-studded squad on Wednesday (9:00 p.m./DAZN) would certainly be manageable for RB. Another disastrous performance without any discernible resistance, however, would be hard to swallow.

The expressions on the faces of club president Tatjana Haenni and Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff spoke volumes in Munich. The RB pros “didn’t put up even the slightest fight at any stage of the game,” criticized sporting director Marcel Schäfer.

And now Real Madrid, too. RB has never won at Madrid’s soccer temple. In the 2022–2023 group stage, they lost 0–2 away and won 3–2 at home. One season later, their run ended when RB lost 0–1 at home in the Round of 16 and managed a respectable 1–1 draw in Madrid. 

Mourinho on Diomande: “A work in progress”

In Madrid, there will be a reunion with RB’s star signing, Yan Diomande. The Ivorian, sold for a transfer fee of 125 million euros, is really hitting his stride, scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Villarreal and also finding the net in the 4-1 win over Sevilla. However, he may not be in the starting lineup against his former club.

That’s because Vinicius Junior, who is suspended for league play, is set to join the team. “I don’t like doing this, but I’m doing it because it’s an unavoidable situation. He’ll start on Wednesday, and the Champions League is a way to motivate him and prevent him from training without playing,” said Mourinho. But perhaps both will be allowed to play up front together.

In any case, Mourinho sees a need for Diomande to continue learning. “He’s young, naive, and a work in progress.” The high transfer fee is also a burden. “Instead of playing with the number 25 on his back, he’s playing with the 125 that was paid for him,” said Mourinho.

Concerns in Defense

No matter who plays: How does Leipzig’s defense plan to defend against the blistering pace of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé? Fullback Lukas Klostermann, who was called up to the starting lineup by Demichelis, was completely overwhelmed against Bayern. National team player David Raum also made a string of mistakes on the left side. And Maxime Estève, signed by Demichelis, hasn’t made an impact so far. 

Ridle Baku is likely to return to the starting lineup in place of Klostermann. Romulo, who has recently been frequently praised by Demichelis, would also be a candidate. 

Baumgartner Better Than Diomande

RB is pinning a lot of hope on Christoph Baumgartner’s return. The Austrian national team player completed the full training regimen during the final practice session in Leipzig in wintry 4 degrees Celsius weather. The 27-year-old attacking player suffered a muscle injury in his right thigh while playing for the national team in early June, which also meant he missed the World Cup.

Last season, Baumgartner was considered the team’s playmaker and a stabilizing force at RB. He was the league’s fifth-leading scorer and, with 13 goals and 10 assists, statistically even better than Diomande, who has since moved to Madrid. Now he could bring stability to Demichelis’s struggling team. 

Seiwald: Don’t beat ourselves up

The six goals conceded over the weekend in Munich must be a cause for concern in Leipzig, especially since the team has yet to earn a point on the road in the Bundesliga. RB also put in a disastrous performance in their Champions League away match, losing 1-4 in Como. “But there’s no point in beating ourselves up now. We have to learn from this and move on,” said midfielder Nicolas Seiwald.