Juventus will face Marco Rose’s RB Leipzig in the second round of Champions League fixtures on Wednesday evening. Here is everything you need to know about Thiago Motta’s upcoming opposition.
Everything Juventus should know about RB Leipzig
Dangerous players: Openda, Sesko, Simons
Marco Rose has tended to prefer a form of 4-4-2 over the course of the 2024-25 season so far, led by the fruitful strike partnership of Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko. The pair have eight goals between them in all competitions between them so far, split evenly at four apiece. Openda also has an assist to add to that tally, while Sesko boasts a record of four goals and three assists from seven matches.
Netherlands international Xavi Simons is also one of the Bundesliga’s brightest prospects and will be looking to cause Juventus trouble. Into his second season on loan from Paris Saint-Germai, but will head back to his parent club again at the end of the 2024-25 season. He has two goals and two assists from his usual position on Leipzig’s left so far this term.
19-year-old midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, on loan with an obligation to buy from Atletico Madrid, is already making a name for himself, and is likely to be partnered by the dynamic Amadou Haidara in the centre of midfield.
Keep an eye on left-back David Raum, who likes to bomb on and get involved in attacks from his position at left-back.
RB Leipzig form so far
In terms of league results, RB Leipzig have the joint second-best defensive record in all of Europe’s top five leagues, level with Arne Slot’s Liverpool. The only side to do better is Thiago Motta’s Juventus, who have gone six league matches without conceding at the start of the 2024-25 season.
The only goals that Leipzig have conceded in the Bundesliga this term came in an eventually 3-2 victory over Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, who beat Milan 1-0 at the Bay arena on Tuesday. That makes it four clean sheets from five in the league so far.
The Leipzig defence were beaten twice more against Atletico Madrid last time out in the Champions League, recording a 2-1 loss which has left them in 25th place in the standings before the beginning of Wednesday night’s fixtures.
Leipzig have recorded three draws and two losses at the start of the Bundesliga campaign, enough for third place as it stands, and are coming off the back of an encouraging 4-0 victory over Augsburg at the weekend.
Juventus and RB Leipzig have never met before in the Champions League, so there is no previous head-to-head record to note.
