Preview: RB Leipzig vs. Hertha Berlin - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, are unbeaten in five matches, although their last four games have all ended as draws.

Match preview

Leipzig had to settle for a share of the spoils themselves against Mainz 05 last weekend, although it was not the worst point in the world given that Christopher Nkunku only levelled the proceedings at the MEWA Arena in the 80th minute.

Marcus Ingvartsen had provided the hosts with a half-time lead in the last minute of normal time to allow them to sit in and soak up plenty of Leipzig possession after the break, with Die Roten Bullen's record of three wins, three draws and three defeats after nine matches illustrating their lack of consistency so far this season.

However, it was a positive night for them in the Champions League on Tuesday, with a combination of Antonio Rudiger's last-gasp equaliser for Real Madrid against Shakhtar Donetsk and Marco Rose's side recording an impressive 2-0 win away to Celtic moving the Germans up to second place in Group F ahead of their last two fixtures.

Timo Werner bagged only his fourth goal since returning from Chelsea in the summer with a fantastic header, before the Germany forward assisted Emil Forsberg to wrap up a crucial victory.

Rose will be hoping to see his side return to winning ways in the Bundesliga on Saturday, but they may need to be at their creative best to break down an increasingly stubborn Hertha outfit.

Indeed, having only survived relegation via the playoffs last season, Sandro Schwarz has already made Hertha a much more resolute team in his early months in charge of the club.

Only rock-bottom Greuther Furth conceded more goals than Hertha's against column of 71 in 34 matches last season, yet only the top three sides in the division plus seventh-placed Hoffenheim boast a better defensive record than Hertha after nine matches this time around.

This growing defensive security has helped Die Alte Dame put together an unbeaten run of five matches, although it should be stressed that their win away to Augsburg last month remains their only victory of the season, as well as the only time that they have managed a clean sheet.

Clearly, there is still plenty of room for improvement at Hertha, but it is baby steps for a team which has recently been on the brink of returning to the second tier for the first time in almost a decade.

While Schwarz will be keen to see his side gain their second win sooner rather than later, he may be more than content with extending their unbeaten run in Leipzig on Saturday given the disparity in resources and individual ability between the two teams.

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:

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RB Leipzig form (all competitions):

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Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form:

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Team News

Leipzig will remain without Peter Gulasci, Lukas Klostermann, Konrad Laimer and Dani Olmo due to injury on Saturday, while Marcel Halstenburg is still a doubt due to a rib issue sustained during last weekend's draw with Mainz.

Rose could restore Kevin Kampl to his midfield given that the Slovenia international has sat out his side's last two matches from the start, but otherwise it is likely to be an unchanged XI from the team that swatted Celtic aside in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Hertha, meanwhile, continue to have several players unavailable, with Jessic Ngankam, Filip Uremovic, Jean-Paul Boetius, Kelian Nsona, Rune Jarstein and Linus Gechter all ruled out of making the trip to Leipzig.

Forwards David Selke and Wilfried Kanga have both been suffering with flu and may not be risked from the start, meaning that former Manchester City striker Stefan Jovetic may lead the line once again.

RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:

Blaswich; Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol, Raum; Kampl, Schlager; Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Werner; Silva

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:

Christensen; Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Sunjic, Serdar; Lukebakio, Jovetic, Ejuke

We say: RB Leipzig 2-1 Hertha Berlin

Hertha will be the fresher team having not played in midweek and they should make life difficult for Leipzig, especially having put together an impressive unbeaten run.

However, there is little doubt that the hosts have much greater attacking firepower, and this should help them secure a narrow victory.

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