RB Leipzig vs. Arminia Bielefeld: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Nkunku's scored, assisted or both in nine of Leipzig's last 11 Bundesliga matches. His exploits couldn't keep Jesse Marsch in a job, but they are making Tedesco's life a little easier. The former Schalke coach kicked off his tenure with a 4-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, before coming away from Augsburg with a point in midweek. Left-wing-back Angelino and striker Andre Silva combined for goals in both games, hinting at a return to top form for both players. Emil Forsberg also appears to be in Tedesco's good books, after making two straight starts, but Dominik Szoboszlai is pushing for inclusion. There could be a further change in the back three, meanwhile, with Nordi Mukiele poised to replace Mohamed Simakan, who picked up a knock against Augsburg. Tyler Adams will likely be among the substitutes once more as Leipzig attempt to close the gap on the top four going into the winter break.

Whatever happens, Bielefeld are guaranteed to be second bottom at Christmas. Arminia beat promoted Bochum for only their second win of the season on Tuesday, reducing the deficit on the relegation play-off place to four points. With bottom side Greuther Fürth hosting 16th-in-the-table Augsburg, and lowly VfB Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin in action against Cologne and Borussia Dortmund respectively, a positive result in Leipzig could blow the fight for survival wide open. Bielefeld have taken just five points from a possible 21 on the road this term, though, and have not won back-to-back league games since late in their promotion-winning campaign of 2019/20. Janni Serra and Florian Krüger got the nod in attack against Bochum, but it was four-goal leading marksman Masaya Okugawa and fellow attacker Patrick Wimmer who did the damage. Strikers Fabian Klos and Bryan Lasme could be rotated in.

Match stats

Nkunku's goal and assist against Gladbach at the weekend took him to a team-high seven and five respectively in those categories in the Bundesliga this term.

After scoring just three times in his first 18 competitive outings for Leipzig this season, Silva has struck five in his last six games.

Leipzig have won three and drawn one of their four competitive meetings with Bielefeld, beating them both home (2-1) and away (1-0) last season.

With 1116.23 miles (1,796.4 km) on the odometer, Bielefeld have collectively covered more ground than any other Bundesliga team this season.

Aerial threat: Klos has won more challenges in the air (96) than any other Bundesliga player this season, 27 more than his closest competitor, Freiburg's Lucas Höler.

Bielefeld have won just away all season, a 1-0 triumph in Stuttgart on Matchday 11.

Probable line-ups

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Mukiele, Orban, Gvardiol - Henrichs, Adams, Kampl, Angelino - Nkunku, Szoboszlai - Silva

Out: Halstenberg (knee), Klostermann (thigh), Olmo (thigh), Poulsen (calf), Saracchi (knee)

Doubtful: Haidara (ankle), Laimer (ankle), Simakan (muscular)

Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Bielefeld: Ortega - Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Andrade - Wimmer, Prietl (c), Vasiliadis, Okugawa - Klos, Lasme

Out: -

Doubtful: Czyborra (appendicitis), Laursen (muscular)

Coach: Frank Kramer