Will Arminia score in the ghost match?
The last matchday before Christmas is on the agenda. However, there is no reason to expect contemplation on the pitch in the clash between RB Leipzig and Arminia Bielefeld. But it will be quiet in the stands, because this match of matchday 17 will also be played as a ghost match in the Red Bull Arena due to the high incidence values in Saxony.
The Bullen are still lagging behind their own expectations at the end of the first half of the season. In the Bundesliga standings, the Saxons are currently only in ninth place. In the second half of the season, at the latest, they should be aiming for the Champions League again. A home win on Saturday against Bielefeld would be important on the way there.
The East Westphalians are still in the relegation zone and will have to spend Christmas in the red. They are currently four points from 17th place to the relegation spot. Arminia, however, has shown several signs of life recently. Nevertheless, in the duel between RB Leipzig and Bielefeld, the forecast clearly goes to a home win.
Frank Kramer’s team, however, has shown itself to be an unpleasant opponent in every game, even if the bottom line is lacking points, and seems to take the word relegation battle literally. An intense game can therefore be expected, in which the tendency between RB Leipzig and Bielefeld is clearly towards a bet on a success for the Bulls.
RB Leipzig – Statistics & current form
It’s still not going well for the red bulls. It’s hard to say what the reasons are in detail. What is clear is that the Saxons simply need too many chances to score their goals. But there is a glimmer of hope that Domenico Tedesco’s team is at least creating opportunities. That’s encouraging for Saturday’s match against Arminia.
Upswing with obstacles
The form of the Bulls can be looked at from two points of view. First, RB won only one of their last five Bundesliga games. However, if we add the Champions League win against Manchester City, then the Saxons are on a three-match unbeaten run with two home wins. Therefore, odds on a home win should probably be the better choice in the match between RB Leipzig and Bielefeld.
On Wednesday, Leipzig gave away two points in Augsburg in disappointing fashion. In a very good first half, Domenico Tedesco’s team forgot to score the goals and only led 1-0 after a goal by Andre Silva, his fourth in the fourth game in a row. So it came as it had to come. Shortly before the end, Augsburg equalised via a penalty to make the final score 1-1.
Mohamed Simakan and Konrad Laimer both had to be substituted with injuries. At least the Austrian is likely to be out after injuring his ankle. Dani Olmo, Marcel Halstenberg, Yussuf Poulsen and Marcelo Saracchi will also miss out through injury. Marcel Klostermann and Amadou Haidara are questionable. It is conceivable that a larger rotation will take place at the end of the English week.
Predicted line-up of RB Leipzig:
Gulacsi – Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol – Henrichs, Adams, Kampl, Angelino – Nkunku, Forsberg – Silva – Coach: Tedesco
Last matches played by RB Leipzig:
1st Bundesliga
12/15 2021 – Augsburg 1 – 1 RB Leipzig
12/11 2021 – RB Leipzig 4 – 1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Champions League Grp. A
12/07 2021 – RB Leipzig 2 – 1 Manchester City
1st Bundesliga
12/03 2021 – Union Berlin 2 – 1 RB Leipzig
11/28 2021 – RB Leipzig 1 – 3 Bayer Leverkusen
Bielefeld – Statistics & current form
It is a special game for Fabian Klos. In the first leg, the Bielefeld attacker scored his very first Bundesliga goal, and at the tender age of 32. The captain wouldn’t care if he scored on Saturday as long as his team took home one or three points. However, there is not much to suggest that Arminia will have reason to celebrate in Leipzig.
Remis kings from East Westphalia
Away, things are not going well for Frank Kramer’s team. They have only managed one win in eight competitive matches on their opponents’ pitch this season. In addition, Bielefeld are the draw kings of the top flight with seven draws. Therefore, we would not predict an away win in the duel between RB Leipzig and Bielefeld.
During the week, the East Westphalians were finally able to celebrate their first home win of the season. VfL Bochum were guests at the Alm in a duel for the promoted team. In an open game, it was Masaya Okugawa who put Arminia in the lead. The 2:0 by Patrick Wimmer was preceded by a serious mistake by the visitors’ keeper. But nobody was interested in that anymore in the ecstasy of victory.
Fabian Klos is definitely a candidate for the starting eleven on Saturday. Sebastian Vasiliadis is also an option again after his isolation, possibly even for the starting eleven. Thus, the East Westphalians’ personnel looks almost outstanding. With Jacob Laursen, there is only one player who is not available to Frank Kramer.
Predicted line-up of Bielefeld:
Ortega Moreno – Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Andrade – Prietl, Vasiliadis – Wimmer, Schöpf, Okugawa – Klos – Coach: Kramer
Last matches played by Bielefeld:
1st Bundesliga
12/14 2021 – Arminia Bielefeld 2 – 0 Vfl Bochum
12/11 2021 – Hertha Berlin 2 – 0 Arminia Bielefeld
12/04 2021 – Arminia Bielefeld 1 – 1 1. FC Köln
11/27 2021 – Bayern Munich 1 – 0 Arminia Bielefeld
11/20 2021 – Arminia Bielefeld 2 – 2 Vfl Wolfsburg
RB Leipzig – Bielefeld Direct comparison / H2H balance
Arminia Bielefeld have played 40 different opponents in the Bundesliga. Only against RB Leipzig they did not score a single point. However, you have to know that the two opponents have only met twice in the Bundesliga and have a total of just four games in the books.
The direct comparison is in favour of the Saxons with 3:0 wins and one draw. However, the East Westphalians took the one point in Leipzig, albeit five years ago in the second Bundesliga. Last season, the Bullen celebrated two victories. Firstly, they won 2-1 at home, and the return match at the Alm was won 1-0 by the Leipzigers after a goal from Marcel Sabitzer.
RB Leipzig – Bielefeld Tip
RB Leipzig are on a good run and have not lost in three competitive matches. Furthermore, the Bullen have won all their Bundesliga matches at the Red Bull Arena this season. However, the loss of a point in Augsburg during the week hurt, especially because it was extremely unnecessary after a good game.
Bielefeld, on the other hand, travel to Saxony with their heads held high after picking up their first home win of the season in the English week.
Overall, the East Westphalians have yet to win against RasenBallsport. We think Domenico Tedesco’s team will play in a similarly dominant manner as they did last time out in Augsburg. In their own arena they also know where the goal is and that’s why we play the betting odds on HT/FT for the Bullen in the match RB Leipzig vs Bielefeld.
