RB Leipzig vs. Hertha Berlin: probable teams, match facts and LIVE blog!

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Nkunku's seventh Bundesliga goal of the season ensured Leipzig came away from Mainz with a point last weekend. The France international also hit a brace in the 4-0 win over Bochum the previous week, and has only failed to score in one of Leipzig's four home matches so far this term. Striker partner Timo Werner has three Bundesliga goals, but made it seven in all competitions with his effort against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League in midweek. Andre Silva was the provider, and will hope to retain his place in attack after dropping to the bench at Mainz. Emil Forsberg, who sealed a 2-0 win in Glasgow with a goal off the bench, is his main rival for a starting berth. Janis Blaswich is expected to continue in goal, meanwhile, despite the emergency signing of Orland Nyland as additional cover for the injured Peter Gulacsi. Leipzig begin the weekend down in 11th place, on 12 points and a goal difference of +1. It marks their worst ever return at this juncture of a Bundesliga campaign.

Hertha are four points back, with a slender two-point cushion on the relegation play-off spot they occupied on the final day of 2021/22. The Old Lady picked up one point across their first four matches and have only won once all season, but are unbeaten in five, drawing their last four in a row. Dodi Lukebakio has scored in successive games to secure points against Hoffenheim and Freiburg, and is Hertha's four-goal leading marksman for the campaign. Wilfried Kanga - who has yet to open his account since joining Hertha from Switzerland's Young Boys in the summer - is a doubt for the Leipzig trip due to illness, so Stevan Jovetic is set to continue alongside Lukebakio and Chidera Ejuke in attack. Agustin Rogel should keep his place in central defence, unless Filip Uremovic is able to recover from a niggling ankle problem in time. Head coach Sandro Schwarz could also be without forward Davie Selke.

Match stats

Nkunku has scored more Bundesliga goals than any player in 2022 (20), and could yet break the Leipzig calendar-year record held by Werner (23 goals, 2019).

Silva is set to make his 100th Bundesliga appearance. He's yet to score in the league this season, but has five goals in his six previous meetings with Hertha.

Leipzig have recorded more wins against Hertha (10) than any Bundesliga team they've faced. They've scored at least twice in all 12 of their previous clashes, whilst losing just once (3-2, December 2017).

Jovetic scored on his only previous meeting with Leipzig - a 6-1 home loss in February. He's since gone nine matches without a Bundesliga goal.

Lukebakio has more goals after nine matches (four) than in any of his four previous seasons of Bundesliga football.

Hertha lost their last trip to Leipzig 6-0, whilst Schwarz's - as Mainz coach - ended in an 8-0 defeat.

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Probable teams

Leipzig: Blaswich - Simakan, Orban (c), Gvardiol, Raum - Kampl, Schlager - Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Werner - Silva

Out: Gulacsi (knee), Klostermann (ankle), Laimer (ankle), Olmo (knee)

Doubtful: Halstenberg (ribs)

Coach: Marco Rose

Hertha: Christensen - Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt (c) - Tousart, Sunjic, Serdar - Lukebakio, Jovetic, Ejuke

Out: Boetius (testicular cancer), Gechter (tonsilitis), Jarstein (not considered), Ngankam (fitness), Nsona (cruciate ligament)

Doubtful: Kanga (ill), Selke (ill), Uremovic (ankle)

Coach: Sandro Schwarz

About the clubs Hertha Berlin

Olympiastadion

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena

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